By Lorrie Harrison
Special to the Weekly
This year’s LCCA Spirit Award party will have a twist. Not only will Marty Clark be receiving the award, Lopez will be turning out to celebrate her retirement. After serving more than 30 years as Lopez Paramedic and EMT, Marty will be stepping down on Jan. 1.
“Lopez knows how to throw a party, and this one will be amazing. Marty has done so much for this island over the years, it will be great to say thanks for all she means to us!” says one long-time friend.
Established in 2000 by the Lopez Community Center, The Spirit Award is given each year in honor of Dolly and Andy Holland, two islanders known for giving their time, talents and money to support the Lopez community. Recipients, often considered “unsung heroes,” are selected because of their history of giving to the community in extraordinary ways.
“The outpouring of nominations this year for Marty was moving. It was an honor and a pleasure to hear the stories of how she has touched, changed and often saved the lives of so many in our community,” said Shawn Westervelt, LCCA board member.
Basically a quiet person, all the attention is a bit overwhelming for Marty. But she’s accepting the spotlight with her usual grace. “I have great admiration for all who received this award in the past. I knew Dolly and Andy well, so it’s a particularly meaningful to receive this award.”
Marty started volunteering as a Lopez EMT in 1977, when nationally the EMT program as still in its infancy. By 1980 she was ready for advanced training and began her coursework at Skagit Valley Hospital. She became Lopez Island’s first certified Paramedic in 1981. It was a volunteer position. She was offered full-time paid employment with the Lopez Fire Department in February 1991 and has been serving Lopez as a professional paramedic ever since.
While medicine has seen many advances since those early days, medical care on Lopez is still classified as ‘rural, remote.’ “With no hospital out here, we provide a lot more care and treatment than our counterparts on the mainland. We have to stretch. What the EMTs and Paramedics do now is amazing. It’s been intense and extremely rewarding.” Marty continues, “I get really close to patients. They become dear, important people to me. There are people I treated when they were babies. When they grew up I treated their babies.”
Some colleagues on the mainland envy her intimate role on the island. “There’s a television show called Rescue 911 that reunites patients and their rescuers – EMTs, medics and such. My mainland friends sometimes grump: ‘No one ever gave me a picnic!’ I tell them that’s because they’re done in 10 or 15 minutes at the most. Out here on Lopez, we get the picnic. I remember after treating someone early one morning, five or six of us went to The Galley for breakfast. The patient walked in and picked up the tab!”
“When I look back on my time in the department, what’s kept me going are primarily the EMTs and firefighters I work with. These are the best people on Lopez. In a sense we’ve been through a war together. Our work creates a very strong bond, that’s what I’ll miss most.”
Marty hopes that the party will offer an opportunity for the volunteers, fire fighters, EMTs, patients and colleagues she’s worked with over the years to have a photo together.
Dr. Wilson has worked with Marty since 1997. “Marty is incredibly capable, brave and calm. If her spleen was on fire, you wouldn’t know it! No matter what she faces, she’s completely dedicated to the patient. This is a person you never have a doubt about, ever. Marty is the consummate professional.”
Party details:
Event: LCCA 2013 Spirit Award Celebration & Retirement Potluck for Marty Clark
Where: Lopez Community Center
When: Saturday, January 4, 2014
Time: 5 – 9 p.m.
Details: Bring your own place setting. Volunteers for set up/clean up, call Shawn at 468-4389 or Suzanne, 468-3074.
Details 2.0: Organizers are planning a photo book. If you have a brief story, photo or letter of appreciation, e-mail it to Liz Malinoff at jlmal@rockisland.com or bring it to the party.
