Former Bethel Paramedic And EMS Coordinator, 'Beacon Of Compassion,' Dies At 41

BETHEL, CT — The emergency medical services community is mourning the death of Bethel resident Blair Balmforth, 41, who passed on July 29.

Balmforth was the former Regional EMS Coordinator and Emergency Management Manager in the New York City Metropolitan Area and had been a paramedic with American Medical Response Waterbury. He also served as EMS coordinator for Danbury and New Milford hospitals.

Balmforth's obituary described him as more than a professional, "he was a beacon of compassion, warmth, and unwavering commitment. Known for his ever-present smile and gentle spirit, Blair was a familiar and comforting face in the halls of Danbury ER and across the EMS network. His dedication to patients and peers went beyond duty; he embodied the heart of caregiving."

AMR Waterbury remembered Balmforth on social media as a man who "wore many hats throughout his career, but mainly as a "true caregiver," who "treated every patient with kindness and every coworker with love and respect. And he was deeply loved in return."