Community remembers dedicated local firefighter paramedic
"A fun-loving, dedicated public servant."
The words used to describe Alan Schweitzer, a well-respected Ocean City firefighter paramedic, volunteer firefighter in Laurel, and recently appointed councilman for the town of Laurel.
Laurel Mayor John Shwed tells 47 ABC he just swore Schweitzer into office as a councilman Monday, then an expected phone call Thursday morning.
"At first it kind of takes the breath out of you. I was like holy mackerel, you know, and to me it just shows you once again how fragile our life that we have you just never know what the circumstances are," says Mayor Shwed.
The news of Schweitzer's passing after a motorcycle accident rocked the entire town of Laurel and the fire service community.
"He probably cared about everyone else's family as much as he cared about his own family," says Ocean City Assistant Fire Chief, Eric Peterson.
"He couldn't walk into a room without a smile on his face and just kept the job very entertaining to say the least," explains firefighter paramedic, Sean Sullivan.
OC Asst. Fire Chief, Eric Peterson, started his fire career in 2000, the same year then 45-year-old Schweitzer began as a full-time OC firefighter paramedic.
After 17 years working together, Peterson says there's no one that loved their job and family more than him.
Firefighter paramedic, Sean Sullivan couldn't agree more.
"How many people do you know can go to their job and do it as a career, go somewhere else and do it for free and then also take on responsibilities in their community with Laurel taking on the council position again and all that, I mean that says a lot right there in itself," says Sullivan.
A family man who dedicated his life to helping others leaving behind a legacy and a somber reminder.
"The important thing we all need to do is just like he lived his life, have fun while you're doing it, work hard play hard and make the most of every minute you have," exclaims Mayor Shwed.
Sullivan adds, "You can't find a better person, definitely a family man, charismatic, so definitely going to be missed."
