At the end of a day of tribute for fallen firefighter Richard Montoya, family members recalled him as a humble man who dodged the spotlight.
“He would have wanted his men to be recognized, but not himself,” said Odie Dolores, Montoya’s sister who lives in Florida.
Dolores said her brother, a 61-year-old lieutenant with the Denver Fire Department who was just weeks shy of retiring, would be “embarrassed” by all the attention and pageantry surrounding his death in the line of service.
After the Mass and burial, dozens of firefighters, friends and family members gathered Thursday afternoon at the Colorado Convention Center, where they exchanged stories about Montoya and embraced one another for support.
Floral displays, portraits of Montoya, a silver fire bell, and his helmet and suit were displayed among other items.
Montoya’s father-in-law, Jess Morales, said the two would pass time together watching Westerns on television.
When not working, Montoya was an “ordinary guy who took life easy,” Morales said.
Russell Morales, a 12-year veteran of the Denver Sheriff Department, recalled his brother-in-law as a fun-loving golfer and an ultimate family man.
“When Rich came into our family he made it complete,” Russell Morales said.
Montoya’s wife, Louise, and his two adult children attended the gathering but did not speak publicly.
Dolores and her two sisters, Dee Parker and Cathy Rinehart, who also live in Florida, said they are overwhelmed by the support they’ve received from their brother’s family, his friends, the Fire Department and the city.
The sisters have also been comforted by their Catholic faith and prayer, Rinehart said.
“It will sustain us through this,” she said.
Parker also said her brother would have been uncomfortable with all the attention he received Thursday.
“He would have not wanted this,” she said.
A big part of Montoya’s work ethic revolved around self-sacrifice, Parker said.
“If he had to do it all over again, he would do the same thing,” Parker said. “He was just doing his work.”
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson can be reached at 303-820-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
