b'PHOTO BY ROBERT COHEN/ST LOUIS POST-DISPATCH/POLARISA HUMBLE SERVANTAt the end of his watch, firefighter Ben Polson was serving the publicBy Dave LueckingAbove: Firefighter Ben Polsons H These are among qualities that Marianist a humble servant had been nurtured at a Marianist-umility. Service.family (left) and St. Louis fire- sponsored high school.fighters salute his body at a funeral home in St. Louis brothers, priests and sisters have in abundance. He was doing what came naturally, serving theCounty on Jan. 16, 2022. But it isnt as if humility and service are exclusive public, said St. Louis Fire Department Chief Dennisto Marianists or vowed religious. Without fanfare, Jenkerson, who coached Ben in high school club hockey,ordinary lay men and women of different heritages, knew him since his birth in 1988 and knew his parentsoccupations and generations humbly and selflessly well before that. serve regardless of the situation. Ben was always around the fire department; heBy doing so, whether Marianist or not, whether had seen what his dad got out of it. And he had seenvowed religious or not, they live the mission aspect what his mom got out of teaching. She was alwaysof the Marianist Charism, as stated on Marianist.com: helping her community, at school events and festivals.We do not exist only for our own well-being but to Jenkerson first met Jim Polson on the soccer pitchrespond to those in need, both near and far. As a in the mid-1970sfirst at competing high schools,prophetic witness to our faith, we seek to reach out then as teammates in the St. Louis area. Later, theyto all without regard to status or hierarchy. became colleagues in the St. Louis Fire Department,One such person was the late Ben Polson, 33, the renovating homes on off-days and gathering at depart-St. Louis firefighter who perished in the line of duty ment events. Jim Polson retired in 2017 as a fire captain,Jan. 13, 2022. The son of public servants, his nature as after serving 40 years in the department.18 Call 1.800.348.4732'