San Clemente Retired Firefighter Dies Of Coronavirus

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — Ken Caley, retired Orange County Fire Authority Apparatus Engineer and San Clemente resident, passed away due to complications from the coronavirus on April 15, the department and his family announced.

It was in late March that Caley began battling flu-like conditions, according to reports. He stayed at home, as was suggested by Orange County Health Care and local officials, but his condition worsened. Tests confirmed that he indeed was infected with the coronavirus.

Caley was hospitalized on March 28 and was ultimately placed in a medically induced coma.

He died on April 15 at Mission Hospital of complications of coronavirus. Though they were not with him in the hospital, the fire department was there to escort Caley's body from the hospital to the funeral home. His wife and daughters were there to receive his body, which was draped in an American flag, while his closest firefighter friends saluted in a moment of silence.

While Caley's death is a statistic in daily reported coronavirus facts and figures, he is not a number, daughter Michelle Caley told the Orange County Register. There is much more to Ken Caley than how he died during the global coronavirus pandemic.

It is far better to remember how he lived.

He was born in Whittier, the fifth of six children. His youngest sister, Becky, talked to Patch about Ken, whom she lovingly calls "Kenny," and their youth.

Last summer, the Caley family celebrated a family reunion in Montana. There were 28 family members there, getting to know each other again. "He was my great older brother," Becky told us. "He looked out for me."

He would be the first one there to put up your Christmas lights, or mow your lawn, or cheat during family poker games, Becky laughed through tears. He was humble, always the last to be served at any event, she says.

Caley and his family are longtime residents of San Clemente. He retired after 38 years in the fire service in March of 2018.

"He began as a firefighter in 1980 at the Alhambra Fire Department, and was hired in 1982 at Orange County Fire Department," OCFA Capt. Greg Barta told Patch. His last station of duty was at John Wayne Airport, station 33. Though he spent time at many stations across the OCFA district, he enjoyed his years at Station 5 in Laguna Niguel and Station 9 in Mission Viejo.

According to his coworkers, Caley always made time for family even amid demands of working as a firefighter. He found ways, even showing up in uniform, to attend his daughters' school functions.

"Everyone knew Ken as as fun-loving guy who cherished 'his girls,' OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi told Patch. "He was known for his classic one liners that are commonly repeated around the stations."

According to Barta, Caley was charismatic, outgoing, always in a good mood. "If you knew you were working with him, you'd have a great day," Barta says.

Caley loved the outdoors and loved traveling with his wife and family, Concialdi said. "We will all remember his infectious smile."

Caley went through two knee replacement surgeries after his retirement, and was at last himself again, before he fell ill, Becky told us. His wife planned another surprise, a golf trip to Pebble Beach, later this summer. Becky says they spent many weekends golfing with him, getting him ready for the trip he was not able to make.

The impact of Caley's loss is profound with all who knew and loved him, and he will be greatly missed.

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