Ron Hollister has been helping people all his life. The former Newtown resident and Botsford firefighter grew up as the oldest of eight children and went on to have a long, distinguished career of service.

Today, family members told The Newtown Bee that he is facing debilitating medical issues, some of which are a result of his selfless acts of bravery.

Hollister’s sister Carlen Pirone, a longtime Newtown resident, was inspired to create a GoFundMe campaign in November to try to give back a fraction of what he has given others.

Being the third youngest in the family, Pirone says she has always looked up to her older brother.

“My whole life I have been so proud of him,” she said.

From a very early age, Hollister aspired to make a positive difference in peoples’ lives. He began working for Danbury Ambulance while in high school and went on to become a firefighter.

Pirone shared, “He always dreamed of being a firefighter and had a strong desire to help people when they are in need, even in life-threatening situations.”

In the early 1990s he was a member of Bethel Volunteer Fire Department.

Then, in 1994, Hollister moved to Newtown for a year and was a volunteer firefighter with Botsford Fire Rescue. He responded to fire-related calls throughout the Botsford and Newtown area.

Hollister also worked as an emergency medical technician (EMT) for Business Systems Incorporated through Danbury Hospital and Greenwich Emergency Medical Service at that time.

“His passion to help others and his strong desire to be in public safety led him to his dream job of becoming a firefighter for Fairfax County Fire & Rescue [in Northern Virginia] in 1996,” Pirone added. “While there, he was a member of the Technical Rescue Operations Team (TROT) and engaged in the mitigation procedures and exercises to perform life-saving techniques during complicated rescue missions.”

In 1999, Hollister and his wife, Barbara, were ready to have children, so they decided to move back to Danbury to be near friends and family.

That same year, he was hired as a firefighter for Danbury Fire Department, where he would work for the next seven years.

Act Of Heroism

While he was serving in Danbury as a firefighter, the World Trade Centers in New York City were targeted by terrorists and hit with two planes on September 11, 2001 (9/11).

Pirone explained, “During 9/11, our country was under attack and local resources were overwhelmed as well as mutual aid. Without hesitation, Ron knew he had to help. His friend Christopher Blackwell of Rescue 3 Fire Department New York (FDNY) responded to the attacks, and Ron had a strong urge to help in the rescue operations.”

Ron was part of a volunteer team of four Danbury firefighters that leapt into action and selflessly went into the disaster zone to help.

Hollister and his wife recalled for The Newtown Bee how he helped New Jersey Task Force 1 with the cutting teams, Pennsylvania Task Force 1 with search cams/void searches, as well as FDNY and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Emergency Service Units for searching the North Tower area.

As a result, Hollister has five World Trade Center certified medical illnesses from 9/11 and is being treated within the World Trade Center program.

The experience filled him with everything from anger and fear to patriotism and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It also left him with a sense of emptiness, he says, for not being able to bring his friends back.

Looking back, Hollister declared, “I will always be proud that I did respond when our country was under attack, and our first responders were overwhelmed. I’ll never forget the FDNY guys we worked with asking us how many more of us were on their way and expressing that they needed more help. I believe that the world needed to see that Americans come together when needed and help each other no matter the risk.”

‘I Am Grateful’

Today, Ron is 53 years old and retired. He has been married to Barbara for 24 years and they have three daughters: 22-year-old Sydney, 18-year-old Courtney, and 14-year-old Lyndsey.

According to his sister, Hollister has been struggling with medical problems that have put an enormous financial strain on his family.

Pirone explained that in December 2019, “Ron suffered a bilateral pulmonary embolism (blood clots in both lungs) and was told by doctors most people do not survive. Since that time, Ron was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension and has ongoing follow-up appointments with pulmonologists, cardiologists, and oncologists – just to name a few.”

Hollister calls the embolism a “life-changing event” that not only created pulmonary/cardio challenges, but also it has been very difficult to adapt to the limitations it causes him. One of those constraints being the inability to work, per his doctor’s recommendation based on the severity of his diagnoses.

Seeing her brother go through this difficult period of his life, Pirone decided to launch a GoFundMe account. She wanted to use it to not only financially help him but also show him how much he means to so many people, including her.

In the page description, Pirone shared, “For the people that know Ron, you know that he has set the bar high when it comes to being a husband, father to three amazing daughters, brother, son, uncle, and loyal friend to so many. Ron has always been there for all of us and is ready to jump into action at a moment’s notice to help anyone. Well, now is the time for us to help Ron.”

As of December 21, the GoFundMe account reports that $9,550 has been raised out of the goal of $25,000. The money is set to go towards paying off the debt Hollister incurred due to his health issues and no longer being able to work.

Upon finding out that his sister set up the online fundraiser, Hollister said, “I am humbled and amazed at the support, as this is not something I would have ever asked for. I am grateful to my sister, Carlen Pirone, who developed this. Speechless and amazed. Love you, Carlen.”

Hollister’s wife, Barbara, posted to the GoFundMe page on December 17 to publicly express her gratitude for everyone’s aid.

She wrote, “We are truly grateful for the love and support we have received by so many and in such a short time. Although we continue to feel overwhelmed physically, emotionally, and mentally, it is extremely humbling to experience the outpouring of love and well wishes, which brings us so much comfort during such stressful and uncertain times.

“Ron continues to have follow-up appointments with a number of medical professionals, including pulmonologists, cardiologists, oncologists for blood-related issues, therapist, as well as several others, and will be doing so long-term. We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and holiday season and good health and happiness in the new year! God bless!”

To donate to Ron Hollister’s GoFundMe and/or share a message to his family, visit https://gofund.me/dee538de.

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Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.