Jim Stiglich loves being a firefighter. The LAFD member spends his off time assisting with fun events that benefit the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund and other firefighter-related charities.
For Jim, a Firefighter III, his reasons for offering his time are simple. “I’ve been blessed with good fortune throughout my career and am proud to be able to give a little back for those who need assistance,” he said. “It’s also a fun way to reconnect with people I’ve worked with over the years but haven’t seen in a while.”
Firefighters know him best for his work helping Tournament Chair Bill Bringas on the Lane Kemper Softball Classic. During the event, teams of firefighters compete against each other in a daylong series of games, all vying for the 1st place trophy and bragging rights. Of course, organizing the day-which includes players, equipment, fans, food, music, and spans multiple fields-always proves a Herculean task. But, Jim doesn’t rest until the last bat is collected.
Bill said, “I can always count on him to be one of the last guy’s there at the end of the day helping clean up and putting things away.” Jim also occasionally writes an article about the annual event for the Firemen’s Grapevine, the monthly magazine for the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association, the organization that runs the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund.
He also helps with the Muster Games at the annual Hope for Firefighter event each June and gives Bill a hand with the Over-the-Line Tournament, which blends elements of softball and the fun of beach sports. Jim said, “For the Over-the-Line games, I’m pretty much a gopher-shuffling equipment, setting up the fields, keeping the rope boundaries in good repair and, of course, helping with the cleanup afterwards.”
With Jim’s dedication, these annual events offer firefighters a fun way to blow off steam while enjoying some much appreciated camaraderie. The fact that they also serve as fundraisers just adds another benefit of working to make them possible.
“The thought that any fireman or family member has the resources of the Relief Association [and its charity] to provide for the necessities of life and the trustees and staff to help them through the most stressful and tragic circumstances is a great thing,” he said. “I am happy to do my small part helping out with a few fundraisers.”
By David Vienna