b'Through Jim Polson, Chief Jenkerson knew Susan as well. Shesnow in her 41st year teaching in St. Louis Catholic schools, includingthe past 29 at Saint Raphael the Archangel. She taught Ben there inthird grade and his older sister, Rebecca, in fourth.PHOTO BY DAVID CARSON/ST LOUIS POST-DISPATCH /POLARISBeing around public servants growing up made a huge impressionon young Ben.His father being a firefighter and me being a teacherhe reallyfelt like he wanted to serve, said Susan Polson, who also creditedMarianist-sponsored St. John Vianney High School in Kirkwood, Missouri, for nurturing Bens natural talents. He really wanted to make a difference.In many respects, Ben Polson was The Natural, gifted academi-cally and athletically. Susan Polson called him a natural athleteand very smart.After graduating from Vianney in 2007, he spent nine years pur-Floral arrangements, a flag and his helmet accompany a photo of firefighter Bensuingand achievingacademic goals. He received a bachelors Polson at his funeral service Jan. 20, 2022, at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.degree in economics from Missouri State University in Springfield in2011, earned an MBA two years later from Drury College in Spring- Ben Polson was doing just that at the end of his watch in mid-field and added a law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas January. His company answered the alarm for a fire at a two-storyCity in 2016. vacant building, one among many in the area. Such buildings oftenWith those credentials, he easily could have become a lawyer, a have unexpected inhabitants seeking shelter from the elements. Andbusiness executive or an entrepreneur. on cold winter days, people who are homeless also may need toBut he wanted more. build a small fire inside for warmth or hot meals.At one point, in law school, he realized it wasnt for him, Susan On the fateful call, dense smoke greeted Company 13, so PolsonPolson said. He was a thinker, very much a philosopher. He really and a fellow firefighter took the task of checking for potential occu-wanted a purpose. pants and the telltale signs of their presencebackpacks, clothes,That purpose was fulfilled by taking a career path rooted in his mattresses, etc. After finding the first floor empty, they went to theupbringingthat life of service he had witnessed growing up. second floor, where they encountered intense heat with circumstancesOn one hand, the career shift wasnt a total surprise in that he had too dangerous to proceed. They turned back in hasty retreat, butchosen Florian as his confirmation name; Saint Florian is the patron without warning, the roof caved in. Polson was buried beneath thesaint of firefighters. Still, his decision to become a firefighter in his rubble and died at the scene. The other firefighter narrowly escaped.hometown surprised family and friends. A second earlier, and theyre both out, Jenkerson said.Even Jenkerson put the question to Ben Polson in the formal inter- Through the shock and mourning that followed, family andview before accepting Polson into the fire academy. He looked at his friends recalled Bens kindhearted nature, his ability to listen andresume and asked, simply: What are you doing here? Why do you his happy demeanor. want to do this? Ben was pretty down-to-earth, Susan Polson said. He didntBut Polson volleyed the question right back. have any airs or vanity. He just treated people with respect.He looked at me and said, Why do you do it? Jenkerson said, In the weeks and months after Bens death, Jim and Susan Polson,with a laugh. daughter Rebecca and Rebeccas husband, Kevin Slay, cleaned outAcademically accomplished as well, Jenkerson had followed the his home in South St. Louis. They finished a puzzle he had startedfootsteps of his father and grandfather as St. Louis firefighters. Like- on the kitchen table; its now mounted and framed. They also dis-wise, Jenkersons son, also named Dennis, followed his father into covered his journal that marked his time in the fire academy, withpublic service after earning a communications degree and a certificate insights into his thinking that Susan Polson cherishes. An entry aboutin multi-cultural studies. time stood out.He said, Dad, I want to be a cop, Jenkerson said of his son, He was always interested in the concept of time, she said, recallingwho was a hockey teammate of Polson at Vianney. He loves his his boyhood hourglass collection before reciting the poem.job as a cop. Ben was the same way. He loved his job. I say, I say, time travel is not OKThe reason is simple. You just may be there to stayIts service, Jenkerson said. Even on a bad day, if not everything If youre tired of here and nowgoes right on a call, you know you helped people. Without distinction, Live today and do not freypublic servants help people, regardless of background or circumstances. Today marianist.com/donate 19'