The diversified public service career of Rudy F. Malesich formed his distinct viewpoint on life and death. His experience as an EMT trained him to act fast and decisively under pressure, whereas his work as a coroner exposed him to the brutal reality of death. These roles, together with his experience as a school principal, provided him with a thorough awareness of human fragility and the value of community support. His firsthand experience with life's most terrible events surely influenced his compassionate, empathetic viewpoint.