By Mary O’KEEFE

Families of first responders are proud of their loved ones every time they respond to a call for help; however, most families take a short breath and say a short prayer as the responder heads out, hoping for his or her safe return. 

When Charles Rea joined his Montrose Search and Rescue team on Jan. 26, 1969 to respond to a call for help at La Paloma Flats, he was doing what he had done many times before. It was raining, which caused a lot of flooding in the area. There were about 30 residents who needed to be evacuated, including a sick child, trapped on the wrong side of a washed-out bridge. 

“I remember when they told my mom. She was sitting in a rocking chair and I was in her lap,” said Loretta Burruso, one of Rea’s four daughters. Burruso was 6 years old in 1969.

The terrible news that was told to her mother Teri (Ayres) by deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. was that Rea had died while attempting to rescue the residents. On Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, the LASD-Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station held a remembrance in honor of the 50th anniversary of that night. 

Deputy Greg Taylor organized a barbecue that LASD staff and Montrose Search and Rescue members attended along with several family members including Rea’s widow and daughters Burruso and Kate Farris and Deputy Jeff Martin and acting CV Station captain Lt. Mark Slater.

That day may have been 50 years ago but for the family it was like it was yesterday.

“They came and told [Mom] that Dad had passed away,” Burruso said. “I didn’t understand what that meant.”

Her older sister Christy (McCrary) told her it meant that their dad had died and “he is never coming back.”

On that night 50 years ago the rain seemed to never stop. According to the U.S. Forest Service more rain fell in the San Gabriel Mountains in nine days than New York City had in a year. Big Tujunga at La Paloma Flats had been hit exceptionally hard.

“The bridge was gone and about 20 to 30 people were stranded at the Tujunga Wash,” said Dan Hensley said in an earlier interview with CVW. Hensley was a MSAR member then and is still a member of the rescue team.

The rain was so heavy at times the other side of the wash couldn’t be seen with only the sound of thunderous river rolling past them, said the late Warren Boehm in a 2010 CVW interview.

“We started cutting down trees and used them as bridges,” Hensley said.

Some team members found a way across the wash and others were called back. The rain, darkness and loud thunder of the wash made it difficult to keep everyone in check. When team members noticed Rea was not with them, they assumed he had already made it back to the others. As Hensley was going back to the main team he saw another team member pointing to the water. At first he wasn’t sure what he meant.

“Then I looked and I saw Chuck under the water,” Hensley said.

The team did everything to rescue Rea.

“His climbing helmet with his rain gear parka hood over it was constrained by the stretched webbing over his head and arms forcing his head down,” wrote team member Dennis Kelley in a story about that night.

Rea was trapped and although team member Roger Baits attempted to keep him up above the water, the pressure was too much.

“I don’t have many memories of my dad,” Burruso said. “I was so young but I do remember he loved Montrose Search and Rescue. He used to have these special candies he would take out with him when he went with the team. I remember he used to lay on the ground and lift us up like we were his little weights.”

Her sister Grace Farris was a year-and-a-half when her dad passed away. She and her sister wiped the tears away as they thought back to that day. The turmoil that occurred after her father’s death is a memory she cannot forget.

“I remember that my mom had a horrible time, and it was really hard on her,” she said.

But, she added, MSAR members surrounded the family. It was difficult but there was a woman who helped the family by bringing meals and helping with Rea’s four young daughters. 

MSAR members are volunteers who are paid $1 annually with mot team members employed in a variety of careers. There were financial issues as well after Rea died, making the loss even more difficult for the family.

As the days, and years, passed the loss of their father still fell heavy on the family’s hearts. On Saturday, it was emotional for the sisters to talk about their dad. Burruso said because of his heroism many wanted to talk to the family, and then the Chuck Rea Memorial Award was set up.

“When I was younger, I really didn’t understand the award,” she said.

Each time they went to the award ceremony it was like losing him again but then as she got older she realized what it meant.

“I understood that whoever received the award shared what an honor it was to receive it in [my dad’s name],” she said. “It was a wonderful thing they were doing.”

On Saturday, the family was once again surrounded by MSAR and LASD members – all to honor Charles (Chuck) Rea. Although no one who was on the team in 1969 was in attendance, they all felt the bond that draws them all to answer that call when it goes out.

Charles Rea’s family includes daughters Christy McCrary and her husband Michael; Debbie Scalero, husband Nick; Kate Farris and husband Matt; and Loretta Burruso and husband Chris. Rea’s grandchildren are Kyle, Heather and Brian McCrary; Rebecca and Michael Burruso; Cory Rea; Devan, Jessica and Chelsey Farris. Great grandchildren are Cadence McCrary and Mathew Farris.

  Mary Okeefe