Posted by Dora J Dye on May 01, 2026
In May 2025, the Steering Committee expanded Emergency Services Day beyond our Club and moved this Event to an evening celebration at a new location with AT&T as a Community Sponsor. We even created a new logo. The 39th Annual Emergency Services Day opened on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at the Marines' Memorial Club and Hotel with an elegant reception offering beverages and tasty appetizers, an opportunity to meet our Heroes, and a chance to purchase special wines from the Wine Wall. 
 
At 6:30 PM, President Frank welcomed the guests in the Hotel Ballroom and shared the impactful work of our Club. He introduced Past District 5150 Governor Laine Hendricks, who served as Emcee. PDG Laine talked about this special evening to honor Heroes who have made a difference and introduced the following special guests:
 
  • District Governor Mitone Griffiths
  • District Governor Elect YuHui Chen
  • District Governor Nominee Designate Cyndy Simms
  • Past District Governor Peter Lagarias
  • District Treasurer Steve Gross
  • Club President Elect Ozan Yasavur
 
and the following First Responder Hero Honorees:
 
  • Firefighter Chris Vickery
  • Police Officer Andrew Clifford
  • Operations Petty Officer Joshua Allstott
  • Sheriff Deputy Eugene Tillery, Jr.
Also honored but unable to attend were Sheriff Lieutenant Louis Ferrigno and Sheriff Deputy Patrick Kim.
 
Emcee and PDG Laine then introduced David Dye, Co-Chair of this year's Emergency Services Day. David thanked the following for their commitment and passion to this Event:
 
The 2026 Emergency Services Day Committee
 
  • Lisa Christian
  • Ann Daugherty
  • David Dye
  • Dora Dye
  • David Folk
  • JT Forbus
  • Bob Hermann
  • Matt Madsen
  • Alisha Marfatia
  • Maureen O'Shea
  • Frank Yoke.
David also expressed gratitude to the following sponsors and donors who generously made this Evening possible:
 
Event Coordinators
Larry Clark, Audio Visual Team | Mary Fermi
Auintard Henderson, Photographer | Laine Hendricks, Emcee
Bob Hermann | Robert Hunter | Dianne Jensen, Graphic Design | Dan Joraanstad | Alisha Marfatia | Margaret Miley
Maureen O’Shea | Jim Patrick | Anita Stangl
Jeff Tsang, Audio Visual Team
 
Community Sponsor
AT&T
 
Sponsors of the Heroes
Larry Booth | Emily Borland | Lisa Christian | Ann Daugherty | David Dye | David Folk
Bob Hermann | Margaret Miley | Stacey Poole | Carrie Schucker | Frank Yoke
 
Table Sponsors
Ann Daugherty | Allan Herzog
San Francisco Police Officers Association and Mike Hebel
 
Special Thank You
Larry Booth | Handlery Union Square Hotel | Hilton Hotel | Hoogasian Flowers
Hotel Nikko San Francisco | Alisha Marfatia | Marines’ Memorial Club and Hotel
San Francisco Rotary Foundation | Westin St. Francis Hotel | Christopher Wiseman
 
Co-Chair David then introduced Cammy Blackstone and Bryndon Burfine of AT&T who shared their support of this Event.
 
Cammy Blackstone and Bryndon Burfine
 
Following a delicious dinner and a chance to mingle, we heard the story of each Hero.
 
San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen described how Firefighter Chris Vickery was fighting a fire and had fallen from the third floor to the second floor in a burning building and managed to get himself out.
 
Chris Vickery
 
U.S. Coast Guard Commanding Officer Rick Smith spoke of the exemplary work of BM1 Joshua Allstott.
 
Joshua Allstott
 
San Francisco Police Captain Matt Sullivan honored Police Officer Andrew Clifford's daring hostage rescue.
 
Andrew Clifford
 
The San Francisco Sheriff's Office honored Deputy Eugene Tillery, Jr. who along with Lieutenant Louis Ferrigno and Deputy Patrick Kim rescued a hostage while under the threat of explosives.
 
Eugene Tillery, Jr.
 
President Frank thanked Emcee and PDG Laine Hendricks with a dozen roses, Co-Chair David Dye (who is an Eagle Scout) with an Eagle trophy, and Club Secretary Dora Dye with a floral centerpiece.
 
President Frank and PDG Laine HendricksDavid DyeDora Dye
 
Congratulations to our Heroes and thank you to everyone who attended and made this event a success. Thank you also to the Steering Committee for their vision and effort to expand Emergency Services Day.
 
2026 Emergency Services Heroes
 
Please take time to view all of the wonderful photos taken by photographer Auintard Henderson. Click here for the photos.