Richard Wolnewitz

Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue Captain Richard Wolnewitz passed away on August 16, 2022 after a two-and-a-half-year battle with lung cancer.

Wolnewitz was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and raised in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Him and his wife, Julie, met in elementary school, and were married in 2013. In 2018, they moved to Jupiter, Florida to raise their family. Wolnewitz was frequently working in the yard and in his garage, playing in the pool with the kids, and proudly grilling up his favorite meats on his Green Egg. He followed in his father’s footsteps and was a dedicated Alabama Football Fan, determined to never miss a game during the season.

Growing up, Wolnewitz loved football and eventually went to play at Guilford College in North Carolina. It was during this time that Wolnewitz realized how much he enjoyed helping others and sought a career as a firefighter and paramedic. He graduated from Florida Fire College in March 2001 and immediately began his career at the City of Palm Beach Fire Rescue. There, many colleagues became dear friends who later supported him and his family throughout his health struggles.

In 2020 Wolnewitz was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. During this time, Wolnewitz made his priorities clear. First: to get better and beat cancer. Second was to raise awareness about the risks firefighters face everyday while in the line of duty, and third was to raise funds so that other firefighters in his same situation would have resources available to them to fight their battles. Wolnewitz’s efforts have raised thousands of dollars for Firefighters to the Rescue, an organization that helps families of firefighters, law enforcement, EMS providers and others during times of need. Following his diagnosis, Wolnewitz participated in several cancer research trials that he hoped would someday provide breakthroughs for others with his specific, rare type of cancer.

Wolnewitz devoted almost twenty honorable years to serving his community, and is missed by all who knew and loved him.

Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue Captain Richard Wolnewitz is survived by his wife, Julie, and four children, Emma, Presley, Cooper, and Harper.