By Catherine Bowen
The Reporter via The Vallejo Times Herald
DIXON, Calif. — Eyes blinked back tears and Kleenex-filled hands darted to faces as hundreds of people gathered Thursday to honor 24-year-old James “Cody” Robben, a volunteer member of the Dixon Fire Department who died last Friday in an accident on Midway Road.
Services were held at Dixon Community Church and 21 different fire departments were present to show their respect for their fallen brother.
Authorities estimate that the service drew a crowd of about 600 people. The honor guard standing outside of the church was called to attention as the Dixon fire engine draped with black fabric across the hood, lights and side that carried Robben arrived.
The church was filled to its capacity, with people who could not find seats inside lining each of the walls and pressing against the doorways while just as many people, if not more, sat outside listening to the service on special speakers that had been set up.
Many described Robben as someone who loved life, and both his life and his funeral were a testament to his strong Christian faith. He was remembered as someone whose life was characterized by giving to others and his love for of firefighting. “Cody’s life passion was the fire department,” Dixon Fire Chief Aaron McAlister said.
Just days before the accident that claimed Robben’s life, he had found Jesse Martinez, who was lying unconscious, and didn’t hesitate to call emergency personnel — an action that McAlister said made all the difference in Martinez’s life being saved.
“Your son is a true hero and great man,” Martinez wrote to Tony Robben, Cody’s father, in a letter that was read aloud during the service. “I am thankful for having another chance at life because of Cody. I look at the mistakes I have made and I know that your son affected my life to help me lead a better life.”
The impact made by Robben was also strongly visible within the fire department.
“Cody Robben was already more than a fireman,” McAlister said. “Since Friday, Cody has not just been the catalyst, but the glue that brought the Dixon Fire Department family together and held it closer than it ever has been before.”
In addition to his constant willingness to help, Robben was known for his cheerful, happy disposition.
“Cody could brighten a room if it was a sunny day,” said Ed Tubbs, assistant fire chief with the Dixon Fire Department. “How could you not enjoy life with that smiling face coming to the door going, ‘Hi, Chief.’ He was and is a fantastic person.”
Tubbs went on to commend Robben for his unquestioning dedication to his position as a volunteer firefighter. “He would do anything any of us ever asked and never ask why,” Tubbs said. “As I have struggled trying to understanding why, I realized that God needed a darn good firefighter in Heaven, so part of it made sense that he came to Dixon. Cody would be that fine firefighter.”
Robben was well loved by everyone in the department and loved them all in return, Tubbs added. Others shared this sentiment and used Robben’s death as a reminder of how fragile life can be and the importance of not taking it or loved ones for granted.
“I wanted to thank him ... for being an inspiration to all of us,” said Dixon Fire Captain Ron Karlen. “I know that we will all love our kids a little bit more, and we will love our fire family a little more and we have that now, that we can embrace it and keep it close to our hearts.”
Pastor Dan Vraa of the Dixon Community Church summed it up this way: “A hero is someone who everyday makes a decision — everyday when they get up — to put their life on the line to save other people. There are heroes in our midst and Cody is one of them.”
As the service drew to a close, the honor guard once again saluted Robben before presenting individual flags to his parents, Colleen and Tony Robben, and the final dispatch tones were requested.
“He’s a brother, he’s a friend and he’s a servant to all,” came the dispatcher’s voice over the radio. Family members slowly filed passed Robben’s casket, some pausing for a moment before it was carried outside to a bagpipe processional, as the honor guard once again assembled, saluting their comrade.
Motorcycle units from various Solano County law enforcement agencies led the funeral procession as it made one last stop at the fire department before taking him to his final resting place. The procession was also accompanied by REACH and CALSTAR air ambulances as it traveled from the fire department in north Dixon to the Sillveyville Cemetery.
As the graveside ceremony concluded, taps rang out through the otherwise silent cemetery, where by all accounts, “one of the good ones” was laid to rest.
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