WATCH: 83-Year-Old Health First Hospice Patient Spent Career Saving Others, Now it’s Time to Honor Him

FIRST RESPONDER Jim Armstrong spent decades serving and caring for others

WATCH: In a first for Hospice of Health First, members of the Melbourne Fire Department, family, neighborhood friends, and Hospice associates gathered to honor Jim Armstong’s years of service as a firefighter in upstate New York, where he lived before retiring to the Space Coast 20 years ago.

For 13 years, Health First Hospice has run a veterans program to honor those patients who served in the military. The program is now expanding to honor first responders.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The day couldn’t have gotten any better for Jim Armstrong.

Sitting in his wheelchair, bundled up in blankets next to a shiny red Melbourne Fire Department truck, Jim, 83, was visibly touched by the large group that had congregated in his driveway, all with one purpose – to honor a man who spent decades serving and caring for others. 

“This is the best day of my life,” Jim said.

In a first for Hospice of Health First, members of the Melbourne Fire Department, family, neighborhood friends and Hospice associates gathered to honor Jim’s years of service as a firefighter in upstate New York, where he lived before retiring to the Space Coast 20 years ago.

For 13 years, Hospice has run a veterans program to honor those patients who served in the military. The program is now expanding to honor first responders, with Jim up first. Hospice coordinated with Melbourne firefighters to publicly honor Jim’s efforts as a first responder. 

“It was something I never expected,” Jim said of the celebration, his eyes welling with emotion. “It brought me to tears. You do that all for 20-some years, and you don’t think anything about it. All of a sudden, it seems like I did it for a reason.”

Jim served as a firefighter and paramedic in upstate New York and rose to captain during his years of service. He also delivered 13 babies during his tenure.

He made such a countless impact on so many people, one of his trauma patients even looked him up and knocked on his door years later, thanking him personally for saving his life, said Armstrong’s wife, Sandy. Jim was also instrumental in starting the enhanced 911 in the Baldwinsville Fire Department, Sandy added.

The morning ceremony on a beautiful March day was one filled with memories and accolades.

“We had lots of stories and lots of good memories,” said Sandy, who met her husband while working as a nurse. She even worked for Health First, too. “It’s a family, being a part of the first responders’ services and health care services.” 

Jim’s service was publicly noted – and all who were present wanted to celebrate a life well-lived. 

“We are just so honored,” said Hospice Chaplain David Hoppel, who spoke to Jim in front of the crowd of people on site to thank him. “You haven’t met me (before today), but I’m on your team. You’re on everybody’s team, being a first responder. I don’t know how to express, I can only imagine the courage, the strength and resilience (you showed).”

Jim was presented with a pin, a shadowbox of badges, pictures, records from when he was a firefighter, certificate of recognition and a blanket, made by Health First volunteers.  

Preparing for the event was a lot of fun, Sandy said, as memories were shared with what Jim has given to others.

“It’s a great honor to come out and meet Jim and be able to hear his legacy,” Chief Nikolai Pippa said. “We have a lot of younger guys in the department. It’s an honor for them to be here.”

And it sparks what’s in store “for their own careers and what the future holds as a first responder,” Pippa said. 

Jim spoke of the role his wife, Sandy, played in his career journey. 

“She never said anything when the middle of night…and I’d have to answer a call,” he reflected, sharing how instrumental she was.  “Once I met her, I grew up,” he joked with a straight face. 

Pippa said the celebration served as a glimpse into what it means to have a lifetime of serving and supporting the community, drawing inspiration for the crew at station 74.

“Being able to talk to him and hear about the stories, you know how he helped the community,” Pippa said. “It was a great honor being here.” 

Sandy said the extra efforts, including the crew getting to shake Armstrong’s hand and personally thank him, were well worth it.

“The reminiscing is so good for him,” Sandy said. “It makes him forget about his pain. I never, in my lifetime, expected so much support from the community, Hospice, and from our neighbors…you don’t realize how much support you have in this world, but you really do.”

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