The Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) on Thursday announced the death of active-duty fire engineer Darren Rockett, a 14-year veteran of the department who succumbed to an injury at Los Alamitos Medical Center on Nov. 6, 2011.
Rockett was born on Nov. 10, 1963. He graduated from Van Nuys High School in 1981 and attended Santa Ana College, where he studied fire technology. He married his wife Jeanne on July 27, 1989, and together they have been raising their family in Long Beach since 1992.
Rockett was appointed to the department on September 22, 1997. He served as a firefighter at Stations 10 and 11, promoted to fire engineer on June 6, 2002, and then served at fire stations 11-C and 18-C. At the time of his death, Rockett was assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau, where his chief responsibility was as life-safety inspector for all high-rise buildings in the city of Long Beach. During his career at the LBFD, Rockett was recognized for his leadership of the LBFD Rescue Youth Program, where he had a positive influence on the lives of dozens of at-risk teenagers.
Rockett was awarded nine LBFD commendations, two LBFD unit citations, two Los Angeles County Unit Citations, and one Los Angeles County Meritorious Award. He was named LBFD Firefighter of the Year in 2005.
Pastor Wayne Chaney Jr. appointed Rockett as a deacon at the Antioch Church of Long Beach.
“Engineer Rockett was only recently assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau, where he quickly established himself as a competent and professional inspector,” said Deputy Chief Jeff Reeb, fire marshal for the City of Long Beach. “His years of experience in fire operations made him uniquely qualified to evaluate the life-safety requirements of high-rise buildings. He exhibited an admirable work ethic, and his enduring approach to his coworkers made him very popular. He will be deeply missed.”
His mother, Sydney Harston, preceded him in death. His wife, Jeanne; daughters Tiffany, Alyse, Sydney and Daryn; and his father, Victor Rockett, survive him.
“Darren Rockett was loved and admired by his fellow firefighters, family, and friends,” said Jeanne.
A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 18, with a location to be determined.
