Abby Altshuler, new member of Norwood Fire Protection District’s board of directors, told the Forum some friends were having dinner and a toast to John Bockrath Sept. 29. His last day with Norwood Fire was Sept. 30.
“He’s one of the most amazing people, one of the kindest people,” Altshuler said. “The kind of person that before you say ‘I need’ and finish, he says he’s there.”
She added he’s done so much, from grilling hamburgers at events, to setting up the fireworks displays, running educational programs in the school for teachers and students, writing grants, training new members, being at the parades.
“He was everywhere all the time,” Altshuler said. “He was really special, and he brought professionalism to the department.”
After a decade of service, she said he saved many lives on Wright’s Mesa.
San Miguel County Commissioner for District 3 Galena Gleason said Norwood has been lucky.
“We are fortunate to have had Chief John Bockrath at the helm of the Norwood Fire Protection District this past decade. From the day he arrived, he devoted himself fully to the safety and well-being of our residents and visitors,” she said. “Countless stories attest to his courage, including many in which he saved lives and put out potentially devastating fires. Just as remarkable is what happened after the sirens faded. John regularly checks in on residents and follows up with those he has helped. His care is genuine, and it is reflected in the way he engages with our community.”
Gleason said Bockrath’s commitment extended beyond those he served to the staff and volunteers who served alongside him.
“He worked tirelessly to strengthen his team's skills and education, providing extensive training and certification opportunities. He also secured the district's financial future by championing the mill levy increase, which voters approved in 2024. Chief Bockrath leaves his post with a legacy of dedicated service and compassionate leadership. His service to our community has been a gift.”
First-responder Sheila Grother spent 10 years working alongside him.
“I have worked closely with John Bockrath for a decade and have admired him greatly since day one,” she said. “I really don’t know how we got along before … When John arrived in Norwood, it was immediately apparent that we had struck gold in our search for the perfect paramedic to run the department. He arrived with every credential we could have even thought to ask for, and then some. And, most important of all, he fell in love with this community. His wife, Deb, and daughter, Amber, arrived, and they too loved us.”
Grother worked with the fire chief on calls that were simple and some that saved lives: stubbed toes, cardiac arrests, the birth of a baby.
“He has treated every member of this community as if they were his family,” Grother said. “He brought decades of experience to our volunteer department that we could never have achieved in-house. At the time we were seeing fewer than 200 patients a year, John had seen that many in a month at his previous job. He brought that knowledge to us and proceeded to improve the quality of care we could provide by leaps and bounds. Within a year of his arrival, he had taught an EMT Basic class, several advanced firefighting courses and so much more. His community education programs are incredible and will be very hard to duplicate.”
Grother said she doesn’t have the numbers of the CPR classes he’s taught, or the number of times he has gone into the school to work with kids from kindergarten through 12th grade.
“We currently have a number of current and former students who are working in the department or are planning to do so, all due to John’s influence,” she said. “When I think of where we were before John’s arrival and where we are now, I am awestruck by what has been accomplished. As John moves into the next stage of his life, he can rest assured that he is leaving our community much better than when he arrived. He will be sorely missed.”
At this time Heather King is serving as interim fire chief. A work session in October will determine the plan for recruiting or hiring a new chief.
