Emotional service for firefighter 'Smokey'

Jevanie Clinton “Smokey” Fubler was remembered today at a First Church of God service where tears went hand in hand with laughter.

And one suspects, after a packed Church heard affectionate and moving tributes, that is exactly how he would have wanted it.

Eight days after the popular 29-year-old firefighter died in a motorcycle accident, people from all walks of life came together to remember a man who had lived his life to the fullest.

Firefighters from the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, members of St John’s Ambulance Bermuda, and team-mates from both Devonshire Colts and Robin Hood football teams were just some of those present.

Bishop Vernon G. Lambe Sr described "Smokey" as a true "son of this soil". That much and more was evident as Chief Fire Officer Vincent Hollinsid praised Mr Fubler’s firefighting service and a visibly emotional St John’s Ambulance Commissioner Stephen Todd explained why Mr Fubler’s dedication and touch of eccentricity made him such a popular and vital member of their team.

Mr Hollinsid said:  “Another life has been taken from us much too soon, another tragedy that is difficult to comprehend and accept.”

“Today we pause to show appreciation for Firefighter Fubler and to express sadness of a much-loved friend and colleague.”

He added: “It is tradition for anyone in the fire service to be given a nickname. It is my understanding that Jevanie escaped this tradition and brought his own nickname with him — ‘Smokey’, how appropriate for the fire service.

“When thinking of Jevanie the words that come to mind are friendly, unassuming, dedicated, committed, helpful and well disciplined, amongst others.

“Jevanie was liked and appreciated by the officers and by his peers and was always respectful and always willing to accept whatever task was issued to him. Jevanie did not have the word ‘no’ in his vocabulary.

“Jevanie demonstrated a calm and steady influence when things tended to get hectic, a quality that served him well. It was obvious he enjoyed his career and cared for those with whom he worked with a great deal.

“Jevanie epitomized the type of employee that everyone wished to have work for them. There was nothing he would not do for his colleagues in the fire service.

“As an example, one of his colleagues who did not have transportation called to ask him for a ride to work. Jevanie told him he had a day off but that he would help. This is not significant unless we consider Jevanie lived in Pembroke and the firefighter who needed a ride lived in St George’s!”

'A little bit eccentric'

Mr Todd spoke of the impact Mr Fubler had on St John’s Amulance Bermuda. He said: “We needed someone mature enough to run the [cadette] programme, spunky, intuitive and just a little bit eccentric to connect with these young people.

“What we needed was a commanding officer for my cadettes who also liked to have a little fun. There was only one choice, Jevanie Fubler. It was almost as if someone had made this role for him.”

He added: “I was reminded when Jevanie truly lived up to that name 'Smokey'. We were at St John Smith’s bay having a BBQ out on the beach serving hot dogs and burgers to our cadettes — Jevanie was the self-appointed chef! I’m not sure what came off the grill, except it was something like dog bones and gristle! Jevanie was convinced they were just properly and perfectly cooked. In his words ‘they tasted well’. And he had us all just about convinced as well.”

Colts team-mate Keimo Gardener fondly recalled his friend’s inadvertent ability to pass to the opposition team, while fellow firefighters raised smiles with stories of the ‘Smokey diet’, which consisted of frequent trips to the butchers and gallons of Kool-Aid.

Mr Gardener said: “'Smokey' was the type of person who left everything on the field BUT… for every good thing he did you could guarantee he would mess up.

“I’ll never forget our game against Cougars three weeks ago. There was a free-kick outside the box, 'Smokey' had five orange shirts to choose from… that’s five orange shirts! The instructions were to pass to the outside. Smokey passed to the only Cougars player — and they scored!”

He added: “Smokey was not just a friend and a team-mate, he was my big brother. On behalf of Devonshire Colts Football Club, we will dedicate the rest of our season to Jevanie ‘Smokey’ Fubler. Rest in peace No26. Colts for life.”