NY paramedic who died due to COVID-19 laid to rest

By Laura French

CORNING, N.Y. — A New York paramedic was laid to rest Saturday after dying due to COVID-19. 

American Medical Response Corning announced the death of Paramedic Daryl Tombs, 52, in a Facebook post last week. Tombs, who served with AMR for more than 30 years and previously served as a firefighter for multiple fire departments, died Jan. 16 from the virus. Tombs had also worked as a dispatcher for Steuben County 911 and the Steuben County Sheriff's Office. 

"Daryl never took a break, he was always working, always serving his community. He was the kind of person we all strive to be," AMR Corning officials wrote.  

A large funeral procession was held Saturday in Tombs' honor with numerous public safety departments participating, including the Savona Fire Department, where Tombs was a past member, the East Campbell Volunteer Fire Department, the Bath Volunteer Fire Department, the Volunteer Ambulance Corps. of Bath and the Hammondsport Fire Department.

"Thank you Daryl Tombs for being who you were. Paramedic, firefighter, mentor, teacher and friend," wrote Savona Fire Chief Steve Beebe in a Facebook post following the funeral. "Thanks for being my friend for 30 years. We had some good times and maybe got into a little trouble, but I wouldn't trade it for anything."