Chances are, you don’t remember what you were doing on the morning of February 23, 1990. After all, that was more than 36 years ago. But for Tom, that day is unforgettable.
It marked his very first day of work at the Orange County Fire Authority’s (OCFA) Service Center in Orange, California—a job that would turn into a lifelong career defined by dedication, teamwork, and heart.
What Tom couldn’t have known back then was that more than three and a half decades later, he would be retiring from the very same place, having faithfully served the County of Orange for over 36 years as a Service Center Service Aide.
A Partnership That Started It All
Tom was part of the very first group hired by OCFA through Goodwill of Orange County’s Supported Employment program—a partnership that has now spanned 37 years and is believed to be Goodwill OC’s longest-tenured employer relationship. And Tom has been there from the very beginning.
For the past 22 years, Tom has worked under Service Center Supervisor Russ, who says he can’t imagine the Service Center without him.
“We understand the support Goodwill OC provides, and as long as I’ve been here, Tom and the others have only been seen as part of the team,” Russ shared. “They are the OCFA family. I couldn’t envision the Service Center without them. Tom even calls me when he’s off just to check in and let me know what he’s up to.”
More Than a Coworker, a Family
That sense of family is echoed by Luis, who spent four and a half years as Tom’s job coach with Goodwill OC before later becoming his coworker at OCFA.
“Tom is part of the family,” Luis said. “He’s always the first with a joke or a remark when we gather for our morning or afternoon breaks. That’s what I’ll miss the most—although I don’t think I’ll truly miss him. He FaceTimes me almost daily, and I’m sure that will continue.”
Tom’s warmth and humor have made a lasting impression on everyone he’s worked with, even those who haven’t seen him in years.
Lessons That Last a Lifetime
Scott, a 32-year Goodwill OC veteran and Employment Training Specialist, last worked with Tom in 1997 as his job coach. Yet Tom’s impact has stayed with him ever since.
“When I first came to Goodwill OC in 1994, Tom was one of the first participants I worked with,” Scott shared. “I was new to mission services, and over the next four years, Tom taught me to see the ‘able’ and not the ‘label.’ I’ve carried that lesson with me throughout my entire career at Goodwill of Orange County.”
A Career Defined by Reliability and Growth
Over the course of 36 years, Tom played a vital role in supporting OCFA’s Service Center operations. His responsibilities ranged from icing down coolers for county support vehicles each morning to making deliveries across the OCFA campus, pulling and packing supply orders for all 73 fire stations throughout Orange County, and assisting with inventory management.
When the Service Center transitioned to a new online inventory system, Tom adapted quickly.
“It was really impressive how fast Tom got the hang of the new system and handheld devices,” Russ recalled.
Time and time again, Tom proved that reliability, adaptability, and pride in one’s work are timeless qualities.
Looking Ahead to New Adventures
Now officially retired, Tom is looking forward to spending more time doing two things he loves most: traveling and cruising. He’s never met a trip he couldn’t take, and he loves sharing those adventures with his former coworkers through photos, calls, and even live streams from the ship.
Next up? A fall trip to Florida and Walt Disney World.
When asked about his favorite memory from his career, Tom laughs as he reaches back to the early days.
“Not long after I started, our boss Michael took the Goodwill OC group to the Orange County Fair—during work hours—and paid for everything!” Tom recalled proudly.
A Bond That Never Retires
Reflecting on what his career with OCFA has meant to him, Tom doesn’t hesitate:
“The Fire Authority is like my family. I’m going to miss the bond I have with the people I work with the most, but I can always call them.”
And we’re certain they’ll always answer.
Congratulations, Tom, on more than 36 years of incredible service with the Orange County Fire Authority. Thank you for showing what’s possible when opportunity, support, and determination come together.
Enjoy your well-deserved retirement—you’ve more than earned it. Learn more about Goodwill OC’s programs at ocgoodwill.org/workforce-development/.
