By Aysia Morton,
Special to the AFRO
Many Washingtonians are grieving the passing of former D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Chief Kenneth Ellerbe, who was found dead in his home in Southeast, D.C. on Sunday, Feb. 27. Authorities are conducting a routine death investigation and no foul play has been suspected.
The 61-year-old was native to Washington, D.C. In 1978, he graduated from Calvin Coolidge High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the District of Columbia.
He joined the D.C. Fire Department in 1982, and served as a firefighter for 27 years. In 2009, he left the District and headed to Florida to work as a fire chief at Sarasota’s Fire Department. When he returned to Washington, he spent three years as the D.C. Fire Chief until he retired in 2014. He continued to serve as a mentor to those interested in joining the Department.
“Today, we send our prayers and love to the family and friends of former D.C. Fire and EMS Chief Kenneth B. Ellerbe. Chief Ellerbe was a native Washingtonian, a graduate of Coolidge and UDC, who believed in young D.C. residents and served our city for three decades,” tweeted District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Ellerbe was impactful outside the Department as well.
“He was always ‘Kenny’ to me, because that’s who he was when we first met in 1986. There were no official titles as far as we were concerned, because he had literally just started with the D.C. Fire Department. Our friendship, however, evolved as one of fellow ‘Warriors,’” said Ellerbe’s longtime friend and public relations professional Lon Walls.
They met when Ellerbe became one of his students in the Burmese martial art of Bando. Ellerbe desired to be properly trained as a fighter, and his mutual friend referred him to Walls’ studio. Walls admits they immediately connected and became even closer when they realized they were both brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated.
“Kenny trained with me for many years until the demands of his job, and the promotions, made it more difficult for him to train consistently. No matter, we remained close, lifelong friends,” said Walls. “When he became the Department’s Chief, he brought me on to serve as the Department’s Communications Director. It was then that I saw his spirit as a warrior and public servant for the people of D.C., his hometown, in full effect,” he continued.
According to Walls, Ellerbe was an advocate for the City and always fought to put the people of D.C. first, especially the youth.
“One of his major legacies is the re-establishment of the D.C. Fire Training Academy, where young D.C. residents have a chance to serve the city the way he did, for over 30 years,” Walls added.
Before his passing, Ellerbe and Walls planned to have lunch at their favorite spot, Ben’s Next Door.
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