Answering the next call: retirement

Deepa Bharath

Many memories are fresh in Doug Wilson’s mind.

The Costa Mesa fire captain, who retired on Saturday, said his

28-year career with the city flashes in his mind’s eye as he hangs up

his heavy boots and yellow suit.

There was the toughest call he ever took -- in 1981, when an

airplane crashed in the middle of Victoria Street, killing four

people.

“I was a fire engineer then,” Wilson said. “It was a difficult

call because the scene was pretty devastating, with body parts

scattered everywhere.”

Then again, there were the feel-good calls that accounted for the

majority of Wilson’s career.

“The cardiac saves usually leave you with a good feeling,” he

said. “You feel like you’ve made a difference in someone’s life.”

Within the department, Wilson enjoyed mentoring junior

firefighters and a got warm feeling in his heart each time he saw

those he mentored receive accolades and promotions.

“But I don’t feel like the older guy in the department,” the

53-year-old Wilson said with a laugh. “My body does, but I feel young

at heart.”

Two other long-timers also retired on Saturday -- Capt. Jack

Schuitt and Fire Engineer Todd Switzer.

Schuitt was nicknamed “the dinosaur” in his department because he

held the record for serving the longest.

“There’s no other words to describe it,” he said. “I simply loved

Costa Mesa.”

Although he lives in Mission Viejo now, Schuitt grew up in Costa

Mesa. He and his wife attended Newport Harbor High School.

“The most memorable part of being here for me was the people I

became friends with,” he said. “You live, eat and sleep together. You

become family.”

Schuitt said he always derived a lot of satisfaction from the

respect he commanded as a fireman.

“I think people were appreciative of us even before Sept. 11,” he

said.

Schuitt said he plans to spend his retirement traveling around the

country with his wife.

Switzer was not available for comment on Monday.

Together, the three men represented about 85 years of experience,

Costa Mesa Battalion Chief Christopher Riley said.

“That’s a lot of years,” he said. “It’s going to create a huge

vacuum in our department. We’re going to miss them.”

Riley said all three were “very well liked and well respected”

during their time in Costa Mesa.

Wilson, who had quite a commute to work from his home in Lake

Arrowhead, said the community in Costa Mesa made the long drive worth

his while.

“Working with this community was the funnest thing for me,” he

said. “Living in Lake Arrowhead and working in Costa Mesa gave me the

best of both worlds.”

Wilson was responsible for starting the Fire Department’s annual

golf tournament and worked to provide academic scholarships at the

city’s high schools.

Wilson said his retirement was a little premature because of his

knee injury.

“I don’t have any immediate retirement plans,” he said. “The first

thing I need to do is have knee replacement surgery on both knees.”

But for the injury, he would have served for two more years,

Wilson said.

Still, retirements are bittersweet. When positions are left

vacant, others get promoted, Riley said.

“We have very qualified and deserving people being promoted to

those positions,” he said. “This is good for them.”

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.