Whitman student (firefighter) dies fighting Washington fire

Very sad story out of Whitman today. Tom Zbyszewski, a 20 year-old student at Whitman was killed along with 2 others fighting a wildfire near his hometown. He spent his summers working on the fire lines: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/08/21/firefighter-tom-zbyszewski-20-died-battling-a-blaze-that-threatened-a-region-he-knew-well/

Very sad indeed. The wildfires in the west are devastating many lives. The men and women who risk, and sometimes lose their lives fighting them are heros.

I am just back from Whitman’s Family Weekend where we had a fine time catching up with our sophomore. Was moved to see that the Theatre program has dedicated its season to Tom Zbyszewski. Also, we attended an a’capella concert last night, fundraiser for the SOS Clinic that provides health services to uninsured people locally, and the men’s group dedicated a beautiful song to Tom. One of them spoke about what a bright, uplifting friend he was to all who knew him.