Steve Marler was a passionate advocate for volunteer firefighters and was a pioneer in promoting the requirement of residential sprinkler systems.
“Steve was kind, selfless, loyal and devoted to his family,” said Sonoma Fire & Rescue Authority Mark Freeman. “What I most admired about Steve was his tireless commitment to community and leadership abilities. These qualities were instrumental in the formation and success of the Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority.”
The 56-year-old Marler, who was chief of the San Juan County District 3 Fire Department, passed away Jan. 28, at his home in Friday Harbor, Washington.
Marler was a former division chief for the Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Authority.
He was hired as full-time fire captain to serve as the City of Sonoma’s fire marshal in September 1983. He was promoted to assistant chief in 1990 and was later reclassified as a division chief when the Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue Authority was formed. Steve also served as the interim fire chief until his departure in August 2007.
“Steve was a well-respected fire officer both locally and regionally in the areas of fire prevention, fire ground command and fire-based EMS transport services,” Freeman said.
Originally from British Columbia, Canada, he moved to California as a child and became interested in firefighting. He attended Columbia Junior College and studied fire science. Upon program completion in 1979, he became the only paid firefighter for the Ceres Fire Department. Marler quickly became enamored of one of his dispatchers and married Karen Carson on March 20, 1982.
“I married her because she told me where to go,” he once said.
The Marlers moved to Sonoma after falling in love with the area while on vacation.
“I worked for Steve for 17 years. He had a great personality, a heart of gold and his uncanny since of humor that could really brighten things up,” said Sonoma Division Chief Bob Norrbom. “I have never met anyone more passionate about fire prevention or public education than Steve. He worked tirelessly on adopting many of the fire prevention and safety codes that are in place today in the City of Sonoma.”
The Marlers moved to Friday Harbor, Washington, where he became the fire chief of San Juan District 3 Fire Department. He loved being part of a small, volunteer-driven department again. Under Chief Marler’s command, the Friday Harbor and District Fire Departments merged to become the San Juan County District 3 Fire Department to serve the entirety of San Juan Island and surrounding outer islands.
Chief Marler also oversaw the purchasing of a complete new fleet of fire engines without having to rely on taxpayers for additional funding. Marler was an advocate for volunteer firefighters, a pioneer in residential sprinkler system ordinances, and he served with calming leadership in all his endeavors.
Marler is survived by his wife of 34 years, Karen; son, Jonathan; daughter, Stephanie (Bert); grandchildren, Magnolia “Maggie” and Stephen; mother, Edna; and sister, Janet (Richard). He is also survived by a grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins in Canada. He leaves behind a very large extended family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Steve Marler Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters’ Association, 630 Second St. W., Sonoma, CA 95476.
Email bill at bill.hoban@sonomanews.com
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