A public celebration of life for Philip Scofield, the first firefighter-paramedic in Santa Cruz County and a retired chief of Aptos/La Selva Fire District, will be 1-5 p.m. Sunday, April 28 at the Santa Cruz Elks Lodge, 150 Jewell St., Santa Cruz.
He died Feb. 23 at the age of 75.
Phil was known for his charismatic personality, storytelling, and strong connections to the community.
Born in Santa Cruz on Dec. 21, 1948 to George H. and Helen S. Scofield, he graduated from Soquel High and began as a volunteer firefighter with Aptos Fire District in 1971.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UC San Francisco in 1998.
In 1978, he was the first firefighter/paramedic in Santa Cruz County.
In 1979, Aptos Chamber of Commerce named him, along with fellow paramedics, “Men of the Year.”
Scofield taught CPR/fire prevention education, became a captain in 1981, and instructed fire sciences at Cabrillo College.
He served on the Soquel Elementary School District Board of Trustees for six years and was president for one year.
The Aptos and La Selva Fire Districts merged in 1985.
As battalion chief, Scofield worked in training/operations and advocated protective hearing gear.
In 1995, at age 46, he was appointed chief of the Aptos/La Selva Fire District. He increased staffing and helped form first CERT team.
In 1998, he retired, due to disabilities resulting from his years of service.
He served as local CalPERS president.
In 1999, he began a new career in real estate, working at Bailey Properties. He also was a volunteer docent at Seacliff State Beach in Aptos and at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
The impact of his service to the Santa Cruz community will be forever felt by the many whose lives he touched. He will always be remembered as a local hero.
His daughter Amber said he was an amazing dad and loving grandfather.
Survivors include his brother George H. Scofield Jr, Kristin Scofield, mother of his children; daughters Heather Sarah Scofield and Amber Elizabeth Tesler; grandchildren Kyle Allen Scofield, Kayla Barros-Matheney, Hayden Tesler, Wyatt Tesler, and his fire department family.
Those who plan to attend the celebration of life are asked to email: [email protected]