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Valarie High Obituary
Valarie L. High
58, of Indianapolis, departed this life December 18, 2014 at home. She was born June 23, 1956 in Indianapolis. Val was a graduate of Ben Davis High School and earned many degrees at Ivy Tech. She was one of the first female firefighters to join the Indianapolis Fire Department, and the first to receive promotion. She loved being a firefighter for over 29 years, and retired as Captain in 2010.
Val loved to travel and especially enjoyed her trips to France, Australia, and the Grand Canyon. She was an avid golfer and loved riding her Harley. She always found time for friends, and rarely missed a Colts or Indiana Fever Games. Val was also a former competitor at the World Police and Fire Games in Australia and in Indianapolis, where she earned a gold medal.
She is survived by her devoted partner of 23 years, Stephanie Heckman; brother, John Dale (Mildred) High, Jr.; her mother and siblings and her dogs, Grace and Dudley and cats Maggie and Maxwell.
Visitation will be from 4 - 8 p.m. on Monday, December 22nd at Feeney-Hornak Shadeland Mortuary. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 23rd at the mortuary. Interment follows at Orchard Hill Cemetery in Wanamaker.
In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to: Survive Alive or the Southside Animal Shelter Tributes maybe made at http://www.feeneyhornakshadeland.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Valarie High
Stephanie Heckman
January 15, 2015
Baby, I cannot put into words how much I miss you. Every part of me aches for one more moment with you. For now, pictures and memories are what I will hold on to. I know you are always with me because I can feel your presence.I love you baby
Julie Baade
January 28, 2015
A life well lived! What an amazing smile, person, leader and firefighter! I love all the worldly pictures of the two of you!
Nancy Rasmussen
January 21, 2015
My Pal Val - Eulogy to be printed in The Helmet
Monday, November 3, 1980 may have looked like any other gorgeous fall day in Indiana, but for the Indianapolis Fire Department, there would be no such thing as "normal" again. For on that date, two women were allowed to raise their right hands and become members of the IFD, and there began the legend of my pal Val.
Within hours of that swearing-in, it was clear to me that Val would set the record straight, stand her ground and make her own unique mark in the "boys club". She was cute as a button, full of energy, could drink most guys under the table and swore like a sailor. She could elbow her way into the middle of just about any situation and would flat out take control. Like the day she announced that she could whip anyone in our recruit class in arm wrestling after unveiling her State Championship trophies to prove it. Irritated by her taunts, several fools actually took her on................big, big mistake! Then there was the day that a group of fellow recruits asked me if I thought Val was gay. After a couple of seconds to ponder I said, "she´s always laughing and usually seems happy to me so sure..............I´d say she´s gay".
Recruit Class 54 graduated on January 5, 1981 and the very next day Probationary Private Valarie High began her illustrious career as a sub on the B-Shift, assigned to Engine 5 at the original station on West 15th Street. Since the administration was fairly certain that the "girls" would be washed out during recruit school, they were flying by the seat of their pants with what to do with us now. One thing was for sure, they wouldn´t subject any one shift to "both" of us, so I was assigned to the A-Shift.
Immediately there was the issue of "facilities". Simply put...........there were none! In 1980 not a single station in the entire IFD was equipped with separate bathroom or bunker facilities so we had to knock, rattle or raise our hand and ask permission if we had to GO. Although we never understood the logic, when Val and I were moved each month to a different station, we were always moved TOGETHER. In our first subbing year we were together at 5´s, 13´s, 7´s, 20´s, 14´s, 1´s 22´s, 27´s, 12´s, 20´s, 5´s, and 11´s in that order. Month after month after month, we would see each other at shift-change, jokingly comparing notes and.............. strategies.
My strategy usually was, "I apologize". Val preferred, "F_ _ _ YOU"!
Valarie High was dedicated, hard-working, highly motivated and never one to sit still. Because subs were often expected to drive, Val made it a point to get engineer certified at her first opportunity, becoming the first IFD female to do so. The day her group graduated from engineer school, she encouraged them to imbibe briefly at a bar on the Eastside for a little celebration. Turning the event into more than a little celebration, Val managed to get the entire group ejected from the establishment. Party over!
Into her SIXTH year of subbing, with no end in sight, Private High decided to put an end to her misery. With no malice aforethought, my pal Val walked into the personnel office, grabbed her crotch and said, "Where do I sign up for (you guessed it) PROMOTION!" (here insert numerous gasps, a dramatic pause, and a series of administrative explicates). Was there any way to stop this runaway train? Not a chance!
Two very historical events happened in January 1986. The space shuttle "Challenger" exploded over the Atlantic off the coast of Cape Canaveral Florida, and within days of that occurrence, Valarie High exploded into IFD history as the first female to achieve the merit rank of LIEUTENANT!
Wanting to congratulate her "on-duty", I called 29´s centrex first thing the following morning so I could officially ask for "Lieutenant" High. True to form she was anything but serious and said, "Shoot, yesterday I couldn´t even spell lieutenant and today I F _ _ _ ing ARE one!"
As they say, moss don´t grow on a rolling stone, and it sure wasn´t gonna grow on Val. Her assignments as a lieutenant included: Rescue 29, Engine 23, Engine 25, Rescue 14, Roving Battalion Executive Officer and TSU 18. When the decision was made, somewhere in the early 90´s, to require paramedics on Rescues (yes, all you youngsters, they were call Rescues back then) Val again threw down the gauntlet and fearlessly enrolled in paramedic school. When it became crystal clear that she disliked both blood AND NEEDLES she meekly withdrew from the class with a polite, "F _ _ _ this! I just need to deal with bottles!" And so she did....on TSU 18.
Throughout her career, Val´s personnel file took on a life of its own. It was full of certificates, oral reprimands, a fire science degree, meritorious awards, written reprimands, merit promotions, high-level details, a computer programming degree, and a 24-hour suspension. Based on her many reiterations, I´d say she was as proud of her disciplinary "accomplishments" as she was of everything else?. Other of Val´s IFD career achievements include: Homeland Security Hazmat; Safety Officer; Fire Service Instructor; Apparatus Specifications Specialist; Prevention/Inspector; FEMA Human Relations and Ice Rescue certified. Some of her civic involvements included: Special Olympics volunteer coach; Pediatric Oncology charity auction; Aids Walk participant, the National Youth Sports Camp and Indy´s Super Bowl (Madonna´s half-time show) volunteer, to name a few.
Then, in 1999, standing on Monument Circle for the first and only promotion process to be held outdoors, my pal Val earned the merit rank of CAPTAIN and I proudly pinned her bars. Of course she had a few choice words about her latest accomplishment and we laughed. Her subsequent assignments as Captain included: Engine 20 A-Shift, Ladder 19 C-Shift and Ladder 43 C-Shift.
On June 19, 2010, Captain Valarie High retired from the IFD to enjoy her little piece of paradise along with her four-legged furries and her devoted partner of 23 years, Steph.
In a local newspaper article following her retirement Val was quoted as saying: "I didn´t know anything about the fire service when I signed up. I just wanted a career with good pay and the opportunity for advancement. In the early days of my career there were some guys on the job who weren´t happy that I was there. I had to work twice as hard to prove that I was capable of the duties required of me. The fire service is still a male-dominated profession, but I think I helped them change their culture and break down a few barriers for women. That wasn´t what I set out to do, but I think I helped bring a different perspective to the fire service." For certain, she did!
In the end, and exactly according to her wishes, Val spent her dying days at home under the unending love, care and devotion of Steph. She was also supported by a multitude of friends and an army of IFD Sisters. Everything was just as she had ordered, including a funeral service with just a little bit of Jesus and an "all girl" crew. The only snag was in her timing, which was simply................too soon.
Captain Valarie High was a force to be reckoned with. She could sashay into a room and within minutes suck the air right out of it. She was spunky, funny, energetic, fearless, intelligent, adventurous, motivated, dedicated, rude and obnoxious all rolled into one..........the quintessential mixed bag! You might love her. You might hate her. But you didn´t forget her.
I´m enormously grateful that I was there to raise my right hand with hers in 1980. IFD got 29 years of a dedicated, capable and unique employee on that day. I got my pal Val.
And I miss her.
Nancy (Sweeney) Rasmussen, IFD (retired)
David Shell
January 19, 2015
I worked for Captain Val High many times. I was also happy to see her because you knew what you were getting. A no nonsense person to lead you. The world has lost a special person when we lost Valerie. I retired from the fire department in 2012 and miss working with her.
Western Carribean Cruise - (1/2005)
January 27, 2015
150 miles an hour! - (9/2009)
January 27, 2015
Skydiving success!! - (9/2001)
January 25, 2015
Breckinridge Colorado - (1989) - National Firefighters Ski Race
January 25, 2015
Grand Canyon Helicopter flight - (8/17/2003)
January 25, 2015
New IFD Captain - (9/7/1999)
January 25, 2015
State Wrist Wrestling Team - (1980)
January 25, 2015
Bourboun Street, New Orleans - (10/10/2009)
January 25, 2015
An Epic Day! We are legal! - (12/13/2013) - Davenport, Iowa
January 25, 2015
New rings! - (5/10/1993)
January 25, 2015
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee - (6/2004)
January 25, 2015
Indiana Fever Game with Robin Roberts - (7/2007)
January 25, 2015
Sammy Davis Medal of Honor recipient - (12/2006)
January 24, 2015
Pennsylvania with the kids - (6/1998)
January 24, 2015
Family Reunion - (7/1999)
January 24, 2015
Friend's wedding - (6/1993)
January 24, 2015
NFL Opening Day - (9/2008) - Yes, that is Faith Hill!
January 24, 2015
19's new Ladder - (4/2002)
January 24, 2015
WFS Conference - Virginia - (3/2005)
January 24, 2015
19's new Ladder - (4/2002)
January 24, 2015
Fire scene Girl Power! - (9/2001)
January 24, 2015
Picking up the corvette - (7/2013)
January 24, 2015
BERT school - (1996)
January 24, 2015
New Years Eve - (12/1997)
January 24, 2015
On Duty - (5/2004)
January 24, 2015
Goldmine, Oatman Arizona - (8/2003) - Under Route 66
January 24, 2015
IFD Candidate High - (1979) - IFD application photo...NOT a mug shot!
January 24, 2015
IFD Training - (1999) - Rappelling
January 24, 2015
Val and her bike
January 24, 2015
IFD women!
January 24, 2015
Freemont St, Las Vegas - (8/2003)
January 24, 2015
(1979)
January 24, 2015
Val's Trophy Wall - (1985)
January 24, 2015
Smoky Mountains Tennessee - (6/1994)
January 24, 2015
Cancun Vacation - (4/1999)
January 24, 2015
Cancun Vacation - (4/1999)
January 24, 2015
BERT school - (1996)
January 24, 2015
Cleland Wildlife Park - (3/2007) - Adelaide, South Australia... Val and Abby the koala
January 24, 2015
Celebrating Promotion - (1999)
January 24, 2015
NYC Pier - (3/2002)
January 24, 2015
Statue of Liberty NYC - (3/2002)
January 24, 2015
Times Square NYC - (3/2002)
January 24, 2015
Private High - (1981) - Brand new private!
January 24, 2015
I hit it where? - Bedford Hills, NY
January 22, 2015
HIMSS Banquet Orlando FL - (2/2011) - Val's buddy Kenny Ford!
January 22, 2015
Grand Canyon, Arizona - (8/17/2003) - Champagne toast on the floor of the Grand Canyon after our helicopter ride.
January 22, 2015
We Win! - (10/2011) - Glen Arbor Country Club, Bedford Hills NY
January 21, 2015
Val and Vivian - (5/2002) - They were sitting by the creek watching the snakes that day.
January 21, 2015
Ground Zero - (3/2002) - World Trade Center site, somber day
January 21, 2015
Ft Lauderdale, FL - (1/2005) - Bob and Kat's Wedding on the beach
January 21, 2015
Did not have to get dirty - (10/2008) - Easy save
January 21, 2015
Halloween - Chicago - (10/2011) - Captain High as Captain Morgan
January 21, 2015
Mardi Gras - Universal Studios FL - (2/2012)
January 21, 2015
Big Cat Motorcycle Run - (9/2010) - Val and her brother John Dale
January 21, 2015
Last Day at the Firehouse - (5/2010)
January 21, 2015
Val and Maggie Napping - (9/2009)
January 21, 2015
Ohio State Reformatory - (6/2012) - Shawshank Prison
January 21, 2015
Epcot Center, Florida - (2/2012)
January 21, 2015
Hog Roast - (10/2003) - Hog roast at Steve and Weezies
January 21, 2015
Florence, Italy - (7/2013) - Doing post TdF laundry at our apartment in Florence
January 21, 2015
Turkey Day in PA - (11/2013)
January 21, 2015
Mass Ave
January 21, 2015
Corsica, France - (6/2013)
January 21, 2015
Pisa, Italy - (7/2013)
January 21, 2015
Paris, France - (6/2013)
January 21, 2015
Paris, France - (6/2013) - Beers the size our of head after sightseeing in Paris.
January 21, 2015
Tuscany, Italy - (7/2013)
January 21, 2015
Indy 500 Racing Experience - (9/2009)
January 20, 2015
Flying a T-6 Texan, Florida - (2/2012)
January 20, 2015
Val and Lyn - (9/2010) - Glen Arbor Country Club, Bedford Hills NY
January 15, 2015
Open Door Golf Outing - (9/2010) - Glen Arbor Country Club, Bedford Hills NY
January 15, 2015
Retirement Party - (5/22/2010) - Val's shopping cart for her can collection route.
January 9, 2015
(5/2010)
January 9, 2015
NYC USS Intrepid - (9/2009) - Incoming!!
January 9, 2015
Shrimping in Indiana - (9/2010)
January 9, 2015
St Patrick's Day - (3/17/2010) - Tall Girl and Michele were there too!
January 9, 2015
St Patty's Day - (3/17/2010) - Val and one of Dupler's kids. It was warm enough that year that she rode her motorcycle down to the union hall.
January 9, 2015
Paris, France - (6/2013) - Arc de Triomphe
January 9, 2015
Grad School - (6/2009) - Chicago trip with Mom.
January 9, 2015
Indy Car Racing - (9/18/2009) - Does this suit make my butt look big?
January 9, 2015
2013 TdF Nice, France - (7/2013) - Tour de France 2013...Stage 5 starting area. With our buddy Billie from Perth Australia.
January 9, 2015
MichFest 2008 - (8/2008)
January 9, 2015
Open Door Benefit 2009 - (9/2009) - Elvis Costello concert. Purchase College, NY
January 9, 2015
2001 World Police & Fire Games - (2001) - Celebrating World Police & Fire Games softball championship!
January 25, 2015
2001 World Police & Fire Games - (2001) - Celebrating World Police & Fire Games softball championship!
January 25, 2015
2001 World Police & Fire Games - (2001) - Celebrating World Police & Fire Games softball championship!
January 25, 2015
December 18, 2015
Thinking of you
Linda Krackenberger Brennan
September 3, 2015
I went to high school with Valerie many years ago. She had such a fun, spirited personality, and Valerie could always make me laugh. So sorry to learn of her passing.
Vicky Rosa
January 6, 2015
This candle is lit in your honor although I know you'll find your way. We knew you from the beginning of your journey at IFD. You paved the way for others. We loved your humor and your smile. We'll see you later. Take care of the animals in heaven. They will be happy to see you.
Vicky Rosa
January 6, 2015
We just heard of Valaries passing. We knew Valarie from the time she started at IFD. She overcame so many obstacles. She made it through at times letting you know how she felt. We moved away from Indy but heard about her struggles over the past few years Valarie we had many times where we just talked about the many obstacles she overcame in her lifetime. My prayes are with Stephanie, her family and her beloved animals. I will probably hear some ruckus in heaven. I'll know it's you Val. Much love. Vicky and Tony Rosa.
Jean Magrane
December 30, 2014
How excited I was to finally meet another woman FF and then that be Val! One of those people I was always excited to see and be around. Fun times on that softball team for the world games even if we did lose every game at the metro practicing beforehand My predecessor hero for sure
Gail Harper
December 23, 2014
Val, you are a champion and a hero. Rest in peace my friend. Stephanie, sorry for your loss.
Carlene Dix
December 23, 2014
Steph,
I have such fond memories of Val from the WFS conferences. She was full of life and a lot of fun. My heart is with you at this time. Val was where she wanted to be at home with you and your animal children surrounded by love. You were a constant and endless caregiver. Thoughts, prayers and hugs.
Pat Wilmoth
December 23, 2014
Where does one start? There are so many wonderful memories of Val. I am sure as the years pass we will still hear stories of Val some we have have heard and some new. The one thing I will remember is your love for life and the love you have for Steph. RIP my friend till we meet again! Love ya
December 23, 2014
It will be an honor to be a pall bearer for you Val. Thanks for your leadership, friendship and smile! God Bless!
Gail Harper
December 23, 2014
Val, you are a champion, and a hero. Life always got more interesting when you entered the room. I will always remember your beautiful smile, rest in peace my friend. Stephanie I am so sorry for your loss.
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