Robert Jesse ("R.J") Visel

We are deeply saddened by the passing of RJ Visel, who left us on Thursday, February 24, 2022, at his home in Albuquerque, NM. He will be missed by his children, Lillian and Landon; mother and step-father, Patty and Dick Danforth; sister and brother-in-law, Athena Visel and Paul Thomas; nephew, Malachi Thomas; aunts, Sally and Marcia; cousins, Kyle, Matthew, and Sean; step-brothers, James and John; best friend, Topher Matthews and wife, Denise; and co-workers and partners from Albuquerque Ambulance.

RJ grew up in Los Alamos, NM where he spent the majority of his time exploring the area on bike, fishing at Ashley Pond, and getting into mischief with his friends. In high school he was a member of the Jr. ROTC program and enjoyed hands-on classes such as building trades. He showed a gift for teaching and working with children as an after school and summer counselor, which also proved to be critical skills many years later in his role as an EMT. After high school he went on to earn his EMT license from NMSU and then moved to Albuquerque. Here he served his community proudly for 14 years with Albuquerque Ambulance and started a family. It was clear from his photos and keepsakes that his children, Lillian and Landon, were the love of his life.

In the days immediately after his passing we had the great pleasure of getting to spend time with his co-workers where we were gifted with an outpouring of stories and expressions of gratitude for how RJ impacted their lives. His coworkers told stories of how crucial he was to the EMT squad, his superior skill for training new EMTs, and how dedicated he was to his job and his partners. They boasted that he performed any task with pride and a grin; from cleaning and stocking ambulances, to training new employees, and rendering care and comfort for the sick and injured in the community. His work and dedication brought him to the level of a Field Training Officer, which we are sure makes his beloved "Bawpaw" very proud to have inherited the family's gift for teaching.

He was known for his goofy sense of humor and infectious laughter. His childhood friends remember this about him most of all, and his co-workers tell stories about how it was never a dull shift working with him. He also knew when to switch modes and was always professional and exceptionally focused during intense situations that EMTs find themselves. One co-worker in particular said "He made going to work something I looked forward to".

RJ was also an avid mountain biker and fly fisherman, which he took to with ease. Athena will always cherish the time they got to spend riding on the trails, as they joked that they finally found something they could do together without bickering (mostly because RJ was always far ahead out of earshot of his sister "coaching" him).

RJ's life will be celebrated by his family, friends, and the ABQ First Responder community on Saturday, March 5, 2022, 3:00 p.m., at the ABQ Ambulance Headquarters, 4500 Montbel Pl NE. In lieu of flowers his colleagues have set up a fund in his honor. You can donate here .