Velma Cox Widow of San Diego Firefighter Celebrates 103rd Birthday

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Crest, California

At 103 years old, Velma Cox is the oldest living widow of a firefighter in San Diego County, California. On May 5, 2009, the San Diego Fireman's Relief Association, its Hand in Hand Family Support Services, and the San Diego Fire Rescue Department, joined Velma and her family in her Crest, California home for a birthday celebration.

Velma's husband Harley Cox was a twenty year veteran of the San Diego Fire Rescue Department at Station 8 in Normal Heights, and after his retirement he spent twelve years as a Federal Firefighter. Velma and Harley saw many things together in their marriage which lasted over 50 years. They raised their family through the Great Depression and World War II, witnessing the rise of San Diego and its fire department as it became a booming metropolis. Velma fondly remembers babysitting several young men who have themselves since retired from the San Diego Fire Rescue Department.

After a long career, Harley Cox tragically passed away in 1976 after suffering two serious heart attacks within two weeks of each other. Since then Velma has lived in their Crest, California home, which Harley had built for her.

Hearing of Velma's upcoming birthday, the San Diego Fireman's Relief Association (SDFRA) and its Hand in Hand Family Support Services wanted to honor her. They joined with the San Diego Fire Rescue Department to host Velma's party in her home. According to Sarah Contreras, the Hand in Hand Program Co-Founder, the organizations gave Velma her first firefighter-themed birthday party, including a cake decorated with a fire truck in her favorite flavor, lemon, and members of the San Diego Fire Rescue Department were in attendance, including Fire Chief Tracy Jarman. Contreras, a widow herself, co-founded the Hand in Hand group a little over a year ago in order to help widows and widowers of firefighters, insuring that they receive the bereavement support they need during their time of loss.

Hand in Hand is a part of the San Diego Fireman's Relief Association, a 501 (c) (3) donor-supported non-profit organization whose mission is to protect and care for firefighters and their families during times of sickness, distress or death. The group's motto is "Caring for Those Who Care", and ironically, the association was founded in 1907, when Velma Cox was only 1 year old.

Summing up the importance of the birthday celebration and underlining how close-knit the fire service community is, George Duardo of the SDFRA explains, "That's really what the fire department family is all about, celebrating good times, tough times, and really those challenging times together."

For more information about the San Diego Fireman's Relief Association and the Hand in Hand Family Support Services, visit www.sdfra.org or call (619) 281-0354.