Von Raesfeld Family Dedicates Mission College Fire Tower
Mission College honored one of Santa Clara's long-time families with the dedication of the Von Raesfeld Fire Tower.
"The Von Raesfeld Family has been committed to service in Santa Clara and the region for generations," said Mission College President Daniel Peck. "Their dedication to saving lives truly inspires future generations of first responders. Mission College is fortunate to count these community leaders as alumni."
Don and Celine Von Raesfeld raised nine children. Three sons -- Myron, Darryl, and Marty-- each went through the fire science program at Mission College and became firefighters.
Combined, the brothers have 70 years of public safety experience. Darryl spent 33 years with the San Jose Fire Department culminating as Chief in 2010. Marty worked for Redwood City Fire and spent most of his career as the Fire Marshall for the City of Santa Clara. Myron was an Oakland firefighter.
"We remember those formative years at Mission," said Myron in 2015. "It's one thing to want to be a firefighter and it's another thing to know how to fight a fire. Mission College helped prepare us to do our jobs proficiently as first responders."
Becoming a Firefighter
Becoming a firefighter in California takes dedication, skill, and specialized training. Fire science is a highly competitive field. Mission College offers a "one-stop-shop" to meet the needs of fire department candidates. Fire departments seek candidates who are trainable - completing a college degree is a good indication of this quality. This is especially true if you plan to advance in your career. Mission College is the only community college in Santa Clara County that offers an Associate's degree in Fire Protection Technology.
Combined, the brothers have 70 years of public safety experience. Darryl spent 33 years with the San Jose Fire Department culminating as Chief in 2010. Marty worked for Redwood City Fire and spent most of his career as the Fire Marshall for the City of Santa Clara. Myron was an Oakland firefighter.
Understanding the value of sustainable, flexible funding, the VonRaesfeld Family established an endowment for Mission College’s Fire Technology program. This donation, along with their support of student scholarships, helps ensure that Mission College remains our region’s premier Fire Protection Technology Program.
