03/30/2017
Friends, I am very saddened tonight to share that our dear friend, team member and brother, Winston Lesesne, passed away this morning at the Hospice Center in Mount Pleasant.
Winston was a beloved member of our Team who gave of his time and talent to continue to help our Fire Service family all over the Lowcountry long after his thirty plus year career ended in the Charleston Fire Department. Many of you knew Winston for his involvement with our Team and specifically for his truck driving skill. I always called him our “Wheel Man” as he drove each of our trucks at one time of another.
As I looked through my photographs today, I came across dozens of them with Winston serving our community through his love of old fire trucks. Seldom did a week go by that he wasn’t on the road at birthday parties for little ones, chauffeuring a new bride and groom for their wedding, rolling in a parade, doing charity work at the Ronald McDonald House, for the Carolina Children’s Charity or the American Lung Association and many times transporting one of our brothers to their final resting place. I have fond memories of his driving visiting out of town firefighters and their families on a night time tour downtown atop Engine 11. We worked together to appear at car and truck shows, cooked many times for local motorcycle rides, and even delivered food and Christmas trees to needy families during the holidays. One of his favorite duties was driving the trucks when we supported Debi’s Kids at Christmas time. His last drive was in the Charleston St. Patrick’s Day parade less than two weeks ago, as he put “Big John” through its paces in downtown Charleston.
My sadness comes from the loss of my friend, but I am also saddened that we did so much together as two old guys who simply loved the Fire Service and only through the photos am I reminded of what a gift it was to know this man. I was blessed to be with him in recent days and at the Hospice Center yesterday to tell him how much I loved him. I’m not sure he heard me but I believe he is now in heaven measuring the pearly gates to see if a fire truck will fit through them. I know he is expecting me to bring one with me when I join him so we can ride in that grand parade on those streets of gold. That’s a tall order my friend, but rest assured our parade never ends.
My most sincere sympathy is extended to his wife, Judith, and his entire family. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be posted here when they are finalized.
Gerald
