Our Story: A Legacy Forged Through Fire
In the early hours of May 14, 1984—just one day after Mother’s Day—my family faced a life-changing event. A devastating fire engulfed our home in Springfield, Oregon. With three children asleep inside, we barely escaped in time, alerted by a quick-thinking newspaper deliveryman who saw flames through our living room window, he pounded on our door to wake us. I was on the second floor and saw flames rolling off the first-floor ceiling as I carried my 3 1/2 month old son downstairs and handed him out the door to the man that woke us. My wife and I rushed back to the first-floor bedroom, wrapping our daughters in blankets and escaping by mere seconds.
Our beloved dog, Stosh (pictured below), was trapped inside—and as firefighters arrived, some courageous men rushed in to save him. After finding Stosh under the girls’ bed, he was let out through a window to avoid carrying him out through the flames. They performed CPR on him right there in our yard before rushing him to a vet. Against all odds, Stosh survived due to the heroic compassion he received as one of us. That moment revealed the true heart of firefighting—not just saving homes, but protecting lives, human and animal alike.
This personal tragedy echoes a family legacy. My wife’s grandfather,
Captain Daniel J. McDonald (pictured below), served the New Haven, CT Fire Department at the Dixwell Avenue Station until retiring on April 16, 1958. Later that same year, his son – my wife’s father – Inspector David R. McDonald (photo coming soon!), completed basic training under Captain Sweeney in October 1958, beginning a lifelong career—from firefighter to inspector—honored by his retirement badge (photo below) marked “O.C. David McDonald, New Haven, Conn.”
Today, as Rusty & Reeta’s Closet, LLC, we honor both our personal loss and our family heritage by supporting today’s rural fire departments. During our Whatnot live shows, we feature department patches, and you, our community, choose where our next show’s support goes.
Departments can participate too — just mail your patch to us, and it could be featured on our show. It’s our way of honoring the people who revealed extraordinary compassion during our darkest moments.
Mail your patch to:
Rusty & Reeta’s Closet, LLC
Attn: Rusty
1812 Baker Road
Penn Yan, NY 14527
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