By Steve Barrie
The Press Enterprise
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A Riverside firefighter will be laid to rest Wednesday after he died of a work-related brain tumor, the city Fire Department announced.
Eric Botkin died Dec. 27 at age 41 at his home in Temecula. He had worked for the Riverside Fire Department for 10½ years before retiring Oct. 30, 2008, Division Chief John Martinez said in a news release.
Mr. Botkin was diagnosed in October 2007 with a glioblastoma multiforme, a form of brain cancer. Martinez said the cancer was “occupational related” but did not elaborate.
Mr. Botkin started his career as an emergency medical technician for Lifefleet Ambulance and Medtrans Ambulance before pursuing a career as a firefighter.
Before joining the Riverside department, he worked as a paid/call firefighter for the Orange County Fire Authority.
He became a Riverside firefighter/paramedic on May 1, 1998.
He was a fire investigator from 2000 to 2002.
His last assignment was at Fire Station 13 on Canyon Springs Boulevard.
Mr. Botkin is survived by wife Hallie, and son, Hunter, 10.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 4268 Lime St., Riverside.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Eric Botkin Memorial Fund, which will assist the families of firefighters suffering hardships due to a firefighter’s injury or illness.
Donations may be mailed to the fund in care of Riverside City Firefighters Association, P.O. Box 7817, Riverside, CA 92513-7817. Checks should be made payable to RCFA. Note on the memo line “Eric Botkin Memorial Fund”.
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