Michael J. Latta answered his last call 26 April 2007. He was 21 years old.
Mike completed the StarFire EMS Basic EMT program (then held at Northern Essex Community College) and, once certified as an EMT, joined us as a skill lab instructor. His energy and enthusiasm were infectious! Mike was most excited when students he was working with "got" whatever it was they were working on. He is sorely missed!
When working as an EMT for Patriot Ambulance Service, Mike suffered a heart attack/ cardiac arrest while driving the ambulance. Mike's partner and a paramedic working on a patient in cardiac arrest in the back of Mike's ambulance were injured in the accident. The patient did not survive.
Despite heroic efforts by the paramedics transporting Mike to the hospital and by the Saint's Memorial Hospital's Emergency Department staff, Mike did not survive. He leaves his family, his paternal grandmother, and in 2010 a nephew as well as host of co-workers and friends who will never forget his kindness, friendship, and love!
At the time of his death, Mike was researching paramedic programs and planned to enroll in the fall of 2007 to take the next step in his education and EMS career.
In his memory, Mike's family established the Michael J. Latta EMS Scholarship Foundation for EMTs who match Mike's characteristics of a strong work ethic, dedication, energy, and enthusiasm and who are seeking to further their EMS education to become paramedics.
The Scholarship Committee meets annually to revew scholarship applications (information can be found on the Michael J. Latta EMS Scholarship Foundation website). In 2010, the award carried special meaning to Mike's family and the Scholarship Committee as one of the award recipients was Mke's Basic EMT course partner.
Currently, scholarship awards do not cover the full cost of tuition - but each year's fund raising activities increase the funds available to be awarded. The family's goal is the Foundation will be able to award a full tuition scholarship.
