By Joyce Kelly – Waltham News Tribune
A 21-year-old auxiliary firefighter and lifelong Waltham resident died on Sunday after crashing his motorcycle on the way to work at Cataldo Ambulance Thursday, Nov. 19, according to Bernard Mullin.
Jonathan Lindsay was heading to his shift as an EMT in Revere, when the accident occurred in Lexington, said Cataldo’s Chief Operating Officer Ron Quaranto.
“He was an amazing individual, and an unbelievable, model employee” in his two years at Cataldo, Quaranto said.
He will be sorely missed by his fellow firefighters and loved ones, said Mullin, who is the commanding officer of the Auxiliary Fire Department and Emergency Management Director for the city.
“He was an outstanding young man, and a great asset to this department. We are totally devastated by his loss,” said Mullin.
Firefighting was Lindsay’s “big passion in life,” his dream, as he wanted to be of service to the community, said Mullin, who had known him since 2005.
“He had a very good sense of humor, and was well involved with the department. His big goal in life was to be a firefighter and a medic,” said Mullin.
He was on the brink of completing his paramedic training at Northeastern University, Mullin said.
When he joined the department on, February 15, 2006, his leadership qualities were already clear to everyone, Mullin said.
“He joined the department very early, but we certainly recognized his qualities of leadership (immediately). He did nothing but contribute to this department,” Mullin said.
As an Eagle Scout, Lindsay had organized a proper retirement ceremony for used American flags in 2005, Mullin said.
“It was amazing – he collected a great amount, at least 200, and we burned them at Mt. Feake Cemetery,” Mullin said.
Mayor Jeannette McCarthy said she knew Lindsay from his Eagle Scout project, and called him “a wonderful young man.”
“He was very organized and dedicated to the Boy Scouts and the Waltham Auxiliary Fire Department since he was 16 years old. He had a great volunteer spirit. Our thoughts are with him and his family,” McCarthy said.
The Auxiliary Fire Department will be involved in an honor guard for Lindsay at the funeral home, and throughout the funeral service, Mullin said.
“Jon was a true asset to the department, to his family, to the community, and he is going to be very sorely missed by the Waltham auxiliary fire department,” Mullin said.
The funeral services will be held in Waltham on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at Brasco & Sons Memorial Chapel, 773 Moody Street, followed by a funeral Mass at Saint Mary’s Church, 145 School Street, at 10:30 am.
Visiting hours were held from 2-8 p.m. on Friday at the Brasco Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in Jon’s memory to the New England Organ Bank, 60 First Ave., Waltham, MA 02451, or the Jonathan Lindsay Memorial Scholarship, 10 Chestnut St., Suite 600, Worcester MA 01608.
