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Hillsborough Firefighters Bid Slain Comrade 'Godspeed'

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

Members of a Hillsborough County Fire Rescue honor guard carry the casket of Capt. Chris Artigas to a firetruck Wednesday in Tampa.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 11, 2008

Updated: 06/11/2008 02:34 pm

TAMPA - An emotional service for a fallen Hillsborough County firefighter ended today with a final radio message.

"Godspeed, Chris. You'll be missed by all."

Friends, family and about 400 firefighters gathered today for the memorial service of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Capt. Christopher Artigas, who was shot dead Saturday.

The service began at 11 a.m. today at Van Dyke United Methodist Church at 17030 Lakeshore Road in Lutz, with full fire department honors. Artigas' coffin was driven to the front of the church, and firefighters saluted.

During the service, Fire Chief Bill Nesmith presented the firefighter's widow the U.S. flag that covered Artigas' coffin. Each of Artigas' children, Matthew, Alyssa and Ryan, also received something dear to remind them of their father. One son received his father's helmet. The other received his father's name tag and collar insignia. Artigas' daughter was given a shadowbox holding her father's badge.

Nesmith said one of the boys plans to attend firefighter school "and hopefully the legacy will live on."

Before and after the service, several firefighters who knew Artigas for years shared memories of their fallen friend.

"The world could be burning down around him and he'd say something to make every one of us laugh," said Dino Abella, a driver-engineer. "This is more of a tragedy than anyone ever knows. Chris was bigger than life."

Friends also remembered Artigas for his music. During the service, mourners watched a video that included Artigas playing two songs he had written, Abella said.

Abella said it was as though Artigas channeled the music when he performed. He couldn't believe Artigas was not a bigger force in the music scene.

Artigas performed about once a week at Rick's on the River in Tampa and was a regular customer.

"He was very good," said Lt. Curtis Lopez, who described Artigas as one of the most colorful people he ever worked with. "He was a very gifted, talented singer and guitar player."

Artigas' acoustic guitar rested beside his bunker gear inside the church this morning, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue spokesman Ray Yeakley said.

Capt. Derrik Ryan said he has known Artigas for more than 20 years. He said Artigas mentored a lot of firefighters and that the loss was huge for the department.

"He was an outstanding fire captain," Ryan said.

He told of Artigas risking his life by entering a burning building that was seconds away from being declared unsafe to enter. Nobody was in the building, but Artigas didn't know that at the time.

The heroic act shows the kind of person Artigas was, Ryan said.

Capt. Henry D. Dorsey remembered Artigas as cordial and professional and said Artigas always was concerned with how people were doing.

Dorsey last saw him on the last Saturday in April.

"He hugged me," Dorsey said. "He always said, 'Hey, man, take care of yourself and your family.'

"He always made me feel like he was more of a brother. Today I lost my brother, and I lost my friend."

Dorsey learned about Artigas' death while shopping at a Bealls for a Father's Day gift for himself.

"I nearly fell over because I felt a part of me was gone."

Now Artigas won't be able to celebrate Father's Day with his family, Dorsey said.

Artigas was a Jefferson High School graduate. He was hired by the department in March 1984 and became a fire captain in June 1995, according to a written statement from Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. Artigas was a firefighter-emergency medical technician, driver-engineer, captain and acting battalion chief. Artigas also was a member of the hazardous materials team and Florida Task Force 3, an urban search-and-rescue team.

Most recently, he had been assigned to Fire Station No. 35 on Countryway Boulevard in Westchase.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, while working with a task force in Biloxi, Miss., Artigas served 459 meals from a makeshift camp stove in sweltering heat in the middle of a parking lot, according to the department.

Hillsborough County deputies say Jorge Orlando Bello Garcia, also known as George Bello, fatally shot Artigas, Garcia's estranged wife, Gina Marie Lamantia-Bello, and family friend Regina Coffaro. Bello also shot two deputies before being fatally shot by another, deputies say.

Coffaro will have a memorial Mass at 10 a.m. Friday at Christ the King Catholic Church in Tampa, according to her funeral home.

Lamantia-Bello will have a service for family and friends only on Friday night, her funeral home said.

Details of Bello's funeral service have not been decided, according to his funeral home today.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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