Robb's Story...
Family at lakehouse in Irish Hills. (from left to right) Robb, Julian, Alexis, Keli, Lucas, Brad, Linda, Russ, Kelsea, Hendrik, Todd and Hailey
I was born in Sturgis Michigan on May 10, 1977 and finally got to come home with my adoptive parents on July 12. I was adopted through a closed adoption and know very little about my birth parents, but I appreciate every day the difficult choice they made. I was adopted by a loving family and I am thankful every day to be a part of such a wonderful family.
It is somewhat weird writing adoptive parents as to me they have always just been my parents. I was their first child and we lived in Kalamazoo. When I was three my parents adopted my second brother Brad and 10 months later gave birth to my youngest brother Todd. We are a very close family and get together often, and still vacation together. My parents had a good friend who worked for the local fire department. I got a tour of the station, sit in the trucks and wear a real fire hat. This is when I fell in love with being a firefighter. We lived in Kalamazoo until I was in kindergarten and then my Dad’s job had us relocate to a suburb of Chicago.
We lived in Chicago until I was in 7th grade. While living in Chicago my parents kept us active and experiencing new things. I played baseball, basketball and soccer. I took pottery and magic classis and I joined the school band. My grandparents lived on a lake in Irish Hills, Michigan. We would spend a full month with them every summer. It was there that I fell in love with the water and fishing. I was also quite skilled at catching turtles. My parents are retired now and living in my grandparent’s lake house. I am so excited to bring my own children there and create new memories.
At the end of 7th grade, my dad was transferred again and we moved to Saline, Michigan. The move to Saline was great for me because I have always been more of a small town person rather than a big city person. In high school I was on the soccer team, marching and concert band, and I graduated with high honors. I also made great friends I am still close to.
Between my junior and senior year of high school I moved with a friend to Alaska for the summer. This was one of the best summers of my life. I had a really awful job splitting firewood for a salmon bake. Apparently, they could not afford a log splitter so they hired me and gave me an axe and minimum wage. 3 times a week a cruise boat would come in for dinner. I also would have to bellhop for the local hotel though I never actually carried a piece of luggage. I would make the 3 mile walk to work and inevitably they would say the guests arrived early you can go home.
My senior year I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do after high school. I was always into art and thought a career in architecture would be a good fit for me. I am so glad I took an architecture class in high school because it showed me there is no way I would sit at a desk for 40 hours a week, so I went back to my kindergarten dream of firefighting.
I was accepted into Madonna University in Livonia and pursued my degree in fire science. Throughout college, I worked a full time job at the local grocery store, which had a tuition reimbursement program for employees. This helped me afford college and graduate without student loans. I graduated with high honors for my bachelor’s degree in just less than 5 years. I also completed the fire academy and became a state licensed paramedic during this same time.
Every summer through college, my best friend and I would take 2 weeks on epic road trips ranging in distance between 8,000 and 14,000. We were able to see most of the U.S. and many of its national parks. These trips are the reason I have been to all 50 states, an achievement I am very proud of. Of course we were broke college students so we did not get hotel rooms we would just sleep in the car, or camp. We were both into photography and documented our adventures on film. This was pre digital camera. It was also pre cell phone or GPS so we did it all with paper maps. It was a true disconnect from our everyday life.
After graduating college, I was hired by the Fire Department and started my career in December 2001. I bought my first house the following year. In 2009, I pursued another passion and started my own business running a charter fishing boat on Lake Erie. At this point, I had checked off my 2 childhood dreams -being a firefighter/paramedic and pursuing a second career as a professional angler. Life was going good but I was still missing a better half.
Robb and Julian on our boat in Lake Erie
In June 2012, the love of my life found me on Match.com. I still remember her first email. We had our first date on my boat and we have been together ever since.
I absolutely love to cook. I spent 7 years at work being the designated cook for the fire station. I have been in three iron chef competitions with the fire department and have won two with my homemade chili recipe. I really look forward to having children to enjoy cooking with. I love being outdoors. The Sleeping Bear Dunes is one of my favorite Michigan getaways.
I have a laid back and easy-going personality. It takes a lot to get me rattled and I am usually happy. I have a calm demeanor and a positive attitude. My wife is a perfect match for me because she is very organized and analytical. She helps keep me on task and I help her relax. I am a good problem solver and good with my hands. There is not much I cannot fix around the house.
I was promoted to the rank of captain at work. This was a big step up in responsibility. I am in charge of all the firefighters assigned to my fire station. It is my job to make sure they provide the highest level of care to the residents we protect and that they go home safe to their families at the end of their shift.
As a child that was adopted, I truly appreciate the choice you are trying to make. I love my parents for always being there, and I love my birth parents for having the courage to let another family raise me. We have a saying in the fire service: “First in, last out.” Meaning we will risk our lives to save yours. There is nothing I will not do to protect and love your child.
Captain Robb and Julian