Two of our longest-term, dedicated members passed away this season.

James Morash had been active in medical volunteering for much of his life. Not only did he serve through our own unit, he was also a member and eventually president of the Minuteman Chapter of EMTs (based at Emerson Hospital in Concord, MA) for over a decade. In the town of Chelmsford where he'd lived for many years, Jim assisted with blood pressure clinics upon request of the Health Department, applying his extensive background as an EMT to screen residents for hypertension. Jim died on January 31, 2011 at the age of 80.

Jim Morash at a hands-on exercise for smallpox training.

Rita Bixby participated in most of our major 'firsts' when the unit began:

	Among the first members to join the UMV MRC in 2004
	Completed one of our first 'core training' classes (four-module sheltering curriculum)
	Served in our first deployment (flu clinics during a vaccine shortage)
	Provided our first hospital backfill (at Lowell General Hospital, in our first flooding disaster response)
	Donated games and served at our first "Healthy Kids" fair through the Lowell YWCA

Rita passed away on April 7 at the age of 78.

Rita Bixby in the serious task of screening visitors at an EDS drill (left), and playfully demonstrating one of her donated games for a children's wellness fair.

We celebrate the lives of James Morash and Rita Bixby. Both Jim and Rita embodied the kindness, generosity, and compassion that make us proud to have known them. They will be truly missed and always appreciated!