'Committed to excellence'

COEUR d’ALENE — Shortly after giving Kenny Gabriel a hug, Mary Duff had this to say:

“He’s one of the good guys.”

About 250 people at the Hagadone Event Center on Tuesday agreed.

Respectful, loyal, kind and trustworthy were just a few of the words used to describe Gabriel at his retirement ceremony after 38 years in fire service, including the last 22 as Coeur d'Alene fire chief.

He sat near the center of the room, smiling at times, surrounded by family and friends, who praised him for not just a job well done, but being a good man who put others first.

“Great guy, everyone’s friend,” said Mike Gridley, city attorney, who worked with Gabriel for two decades. “There’s nobody he would not help.”

While Gabriel loved his job, the people and the city, there’s one thing he didn’t like: attention.

“He was the most challenging retiree I have run into,” said City Administrator Troy Tymesen, as the crowd laughed. “I didn’t accept his letter of retirement until I checked in with his wife (Wendy) to make sure this party could occur because he wasn’t going to be here.”

Kenny Gabriel really didn’t want a celebration in his honor, but Tymesen got the go ahead from Wendy Gabriel in the form of a text: “Go for it.”

“Thank you for that, so we could pull this off,” Tymesen said.

Gabriel said he was nervous, excited and blessed with so many people there for him, and moving on to the next chapter in life sure to include some golfing, traveling and being with grandchildren.

“So happy they’re here,” he said as he took a break from chatting with people.

He called it “overwhelming.”

Looking back on his career, he said he was struck by how quickly it went, how much has changed, and “how wonderful this community has been over the years.”

He said the firefighters always worked as a team.

“I’m going to miss these guys an enormous amount, but it’s time for them to get a new breath of fresh air into the department,” he said.

Coeur d'Alene Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Greif has been named the city’s new fire chief and was sworn in Tuesday night at the City Council meeting.

Greif said Gabriel was a servant leader.

“He’s always making sure everybody comes first above himself,” he said.

Coeur d’Alene Mayor Jim Hammond, who took office in January, took a playful dig at Gabriel.

“Kenny, you are a dirty dog. I just get into this office and you desert me,” he said.

Hammond said the two have been friends longer than colleagues.

“Kenny, you have always stayed true to yourself, and that is what I’ve always respected about you,” he said.

Steve Widmyer, former Coeur d’Alene mayor, said he asked people for two words to describe Gabriel. Those words included great guy, everyone’s friend, dedicated leader, values relationships, family man and team player.

“The two words that I would use, add a preposition to it, committed to excellence,” Widmyer said.

“Kenny has been, and will always be, committed to excellence in his friendships. He will always be committed to excellence with his family and he’ll always be committed to excellence in the hometown that he loves, the city of Coeur d’Alene.”

Gabriel, humbled by the attention, said he’s feeling good about where he’s been, where he is and where he’s headed.

“Wendy and I can go do what we want to do,” he said. “It’s just been so fun and now we’re off.”