Fallen firefighter’s family and friends give Christmas surprise

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Johnston firefighter Richard Gemma died in a motorcycle accident in August.

His friends and family knew the first Christmas without him would be difficult.

But they also found a way to keep his spirit alive by continuing his Christmas tradition.

“I’ve had a lot of people come up to me, and even go onto the news and say what a good guy he was because he helped their family out during Christmas,” said Richard’s brother, Lou Gemma. “So the three of us were like, ‘You know what? If he loved doing it that much, let’s keep it going.'”

A friend from the school department suggested a family in need this year: the Ramos family of Cranston.

So Gemma’s friends and family brought dozens of presents for 5–year–old Emmanuel, and 4–year–old triplets Essence, Ernesto, and Esperanza.

Their mother, Erica, is spending her first Christmas as a single mom, and she says the gifts mean a lot for her family.

“It makes me want to cry,” Ramos said. “It’s bringing tears to my eyes right now.”

And it was just as emotional for those bringing the gifts.

“It’s just so overwhelming,” said friend Chris Campagnone of Cranston. “It makes us feel so good, doing it for other people.”

They say Gemma is looking down on them, and proud.

“That was Richie smiling through them, in my eyes,” said Gemma’s cousin, Ken Fetty of Warwick. “That’s why those smiles were so bright.”

“When those little kids’ faces were glowing, I was like, ‘Wow. What a beautiful thing,'” said Lou Gemma. “That’s what Christmas is right there.”

©WLNE-TV/ABC6 2019