Embodying the finest qualities of a true firefighter, George D. Gemind served the community of Glendale with honor and distinction for 27 years before his retirement in 2013. George possessed the skills of a craftsman and was instrumental in the design, fabrication and outfitting of Glendale’s fire apparatus. His work as a firefighter earned him several awards, including the prestigious Distinguished Service Award recognizing him as the Firefighter of the Year in 1990. George was an avid dirt bike rider and rode thousands of miles through Baja and, for many years, took on the challenging Colorado 1000 dual-sport rides. George succumbed to the effects of job-related cancer and is survived by his wife, Cathy, of 31 years.