U.S. Forest Service firefighter Brent Michael Witham, his sister said, was once a “skinny kid with messed-up teeth” who made her his sidekick and talked her into joining him in dressing up as an Army soldier.
“He transformed into this hard-working, take-charge, get-it-done type of guy” who was a strong and confident man, Jannelle Giordano said. “I admired everything about him, and I still do.” Witham, 29, was remembered Thursday, Aug. 10, as a focused man who was a friend to strangers, continued his family’s legacy in public service but who was never above mugging for the camera with his red hair and beard.