By Moira Ritter
The Charlotte Observer
GREENSBORO, N.C. — A North Carolina veteran firefighter and father of three died after a long battle with cancer, fire department officials and family say.
Robert Swink died Monday, Oct. 31, according to a Greensboro Fire Department news release, WGHP reported. Swink was a 26-year veteran firefighter, husband and father to three adult children.
“I sure am gonna miss ya Dad, but I promise to carry on your legacy and keep making ya proud!” one of Swink’s sons wrote in an Oct. 31 Facebook post.
The Greensboro Fire Department did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment.
Swink’s career as a firefighter began in 1996 at the Guilford College Fire Department, the department said, according to WGHP. He became an official member of the Greensboro department in 2001.
In his time at the department, Swink was respected by everyone he worked with and always had a positive outlook, WFMY reported.
Swink was a “great firefighter and a dedicated member of our family,” Greensboro Fire Chief Jim Robinson said in a release, according to WXLV. ”We are hurting today as a family.”
One Facebook user shared that Swink was “a great man that will not be forgotten!”
“He was one of the best,” another wrote.
“He was not just a coworker but a true friend,” a third person commented.
Greensboro is about 90 miles northeast of Charlotte.
Read more
WHO cancer division reclassifies firefighting as a Group 1 carcinogenic profession
The decision "could pave the way for more regulations and funding to protect firefighters, as well as for those who are already battling cancer," said Dr. Alberto Caban-Martinez
___
©2022 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.