Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, California • Line of Duty Death: February 7, 2024

Firefighter Anthony Benelisha of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District in California, passed away from occupational related cancer on February 7, 2024. He fought a long and hard five-year battle with the twice-recurring disease, which was diagnosed at age 27. He was 32 years old at the time of his death and had served as a first responder for 10 years, the last two with the Sac Metro Fire District. 

Benelisha was born in Mountain View, California, to Jenny Fristrup and Stephen Benelisha. As a teenager, he was a summer sailing instructor at the Channel Islands Harbor. He loved the ocean and went on to study and graduate from Humboldt State University with a degree in Oceanography. While in college, he enjoyed rowing and marine research. He also volunteered with the Arcata Fire Department. Upon graduation, they hired him as a permanent firefighter, and he later became President of Firefighter Local 4981. In 2021, he became a Paramedic and transferred to Sacramento Metro Fire District, Firehouse 101. He loved being a firefighter and serving the public. He felt a duty to protect others. In his spare time, he handcrafted beautiful and highly functional leather firefighter tool belts for many of his firefighter friends. In 2023, he was given the Firefighter of the Year award. He served proudly, even during ongoing chemotherapy, and never lost his sense of humor.  

Benelisha married his loving wife, Ashleigh, and they had a cherished baby girl, Eleanor. He was a devoted family man who loved his wife and daughter above all else. He left a legacy of love, even for his dog, Kevin, considered to be his best friend. 

Firefighter/Paramedic Anthony Benelisha is survived by his wife, Ashleigh, his daughter, Eleanor, his mother, Jenny Fristrup, his father, Stephen Benelisha, his stepmother, Wanda Benelisha, his sister, Audrey, and many other cherished family members and friends. 

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has paid off the mortgage on the Benelisha family home through the Fallen First Responder Home Program.