Ed Rios Obituary, Death- The passing of Ed Rios, who had previously held the position of Fire Chief, is something that we must share with you, albeit with a heavy heart. This morning, in the presence of his family and friends, the Chief, who had been battling his illness for a very long time and doing so with great bravery, died away. He was 73. Before moving to Wittmann with his family in his senior years, Chief Rios spent a good portion of his life in El Mirage as his primary residence. Chief Rios was a well-known figure in the El Mirage community for many years. In the late 1970s, Chief Rios joined the El Mirage Fire Department as a volunteer member of the department.
In 1981, he was given the title of Chief, which he continued to hold until his retirement in 2001. Growing up in El Mirage to working in his official job with the El Mirage Fire Department and as the Fire Chief, Ed Rios was always visible in our community, as seen by the following comment provided by Mayor Alexis Hermosillo: “Ed Rios was always present in our town. Even after he retired, he remained one of the most ardent defenders of our City. He was a lifelong resident. He was present at all times and never disappeared. Visiting him on school field trips while he was teaching my classmates and me about fire safety and being allowed to tag along in our City’s parades are two of the most treasured memories I have of him.
He also allowed me to ride in the fire truck that he drove in our City’s parades. In more recent years, he has kept a constant awareness of the development being made at our new library, which was formerly a fire station. This building originally housed the fire department. My great-uncle Eddie was not only one of the most enthusiastic supporters of me, but also one of the most fervent promoters of our city. He was one of the most devoted admirers I’ve ever had. His unending love for El Mirage shined through in everything he did for the community, and the legacy he established in this place will endure in our thoughts and feelings for the rest of our lives. Once more, we are reminded that a life that is spent in the service of other people is a life that has been lived to its fullest potential.