First of two parts
[Editor’s Note: The first anniversary of the tragic death of uncommonly popular Culver City police Lt. Curt Massey, 41 years old, and father of three small chidren, comes up on Thursday of next week, Jan. 28. At his funeral at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral, downtown Los Angeles, on Feb. 6, his stepfather, John Davis, weaved and delivered a eulogy for the ages. The second installation will run next Monday.]
For Curt
Where does one begin to talk about a life so special? Words are all we have. But words sound so thin at a time like this.
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How do we talk about a guy who had such goodness at his core without sounding trite? Some people live a long time before they “get it.” Sadly, some never get it. I think Curt was born with it. Life is a mystery. We know that humans are molded by both nature and nurture. Curt’s goodness was an amazing mix of good nature and good nurture.
All parents have bragging rights, and would say wonderful things about their children. However, in this case, I can take no such credit since I became Curt’s stepdad when he was 17. Both nature and nurture had already played their roles by the time I came into Curt’s life.
And therefore my feelings about this extraordinary young man are more objective because I was not a part of his early formation, as were his Mom, Padric, and his Dad, Steve.
So the things I have to say have an objectivity not afforded parents. I was aware of the stories Padric shared with me of Curt’s early life in their family. Because of their family circumstances, Curt became the man of the house at an early age. I remember Padric telling me that he became a constant and steady strength for both her and Brett. Padric was a single working mom with two young children. Fortunately for Curt, Brett and Padric, their Dad, Steve, and stepmom Jan were present in the boys’ lives weekly. Between Padric and Steve, Curt and Brett received all of the benefits of loving and involved parents.
But what I came to realize in these stories of their early family years was that Curt took on the role of family protector. While Padric was no shrinking violet, her home lacked a man being there to be a protector. And Curt became that man for his Mom at a young age.
The role that Curt rose to probably was the seminal beginning of this young man’s quest in life to be a protector.
He served that role in Padric’s home with an ever increasing sense of responsibility. Padric has often wondered what compelled first Curt and then Brett into law enforcement.
Sure they had the wonderful adventures with their Dad on hunting and fishing trips throughout their lives and learned to be responsible sportsmen. We thought that learning that kind of responsibility and respect for guns might have played a part. But that hardly explains their journey into law enforcement as a career.
I personally think it all began when Curt fulfilled the role of the man of the house at an early age. I think his calling “to protect and serve” was developed in those early home years when he was his Mom’s and his brother’s “protector.”
Curt had an extraordinary sense of responsibility for others’ well-being. In high school, he would volunteer to be the designated driver for his friends when they were out partying. Also in high school, he joined a group that would go pick up kids at parties and drive them home. He took that as seriously as others took their partying and drinking seriously. For a person so young, that is extraordinary.
Curt was a Summer Camp Counselor at St. Matthew’s Day Camp for many years, and it was there that Padric and I realized this kid was destined to work with young people. Curt thrived in being a counselor and role model to young campers. He and his fellow counselors had a blast together. But it was Curt and a couple of his buddies who were serious about being an influence for good with the young campers.
Curt was so serious with this summer avocation that Padric and I were sure he would go into youth work. And of course he did in a most meaningful way, with the Culver City Police Dept. with the youth at-risk programs. But in his high school years, we always thought he aspired to work with young people in camps. The clue we missed was what we called his response to sirens. Even if we were sitting at the dinner table and there was a siren sound, Curt would bolt from the table, jump in his car and rush to the scene.
Another clue about his early interest in police work, which we totally missed seeing, was the police radio scanner he bought. He was fascinated by all that was going on out there in L. A. He had this inner urge to be a part of the action, and this keen sense of protecting others.
We didn’t know it at the time, but it should have been obvious: Batman was being reincarnated in our home. Pacific Palisades was Gotham City. Curt’s car was the Batmobile.
I look back now and say, it’s all so obvious. But at the time, we thought it was just a phase. Boy, were we wrong. Curt was Batman. He cared deeply for people and protecting them from harm.
Later at the University of Northern Arizona, Curt, in addition to his degree work and fraternity involvement, studied and passed and became part of the Flagstaff EMT unit. I can remember so vividly his stories of rescues and the excitement he had in being able to make a difference in someone’s life at their time of trauma.
His police work, first as a youth DARE officer, was in perfect sync with the kid who was the camp counselor. His special work with at-risk kids was probably the part of his job that he loved the most because making a connection with kids gave him an opportunity to change their lives.
And of course the commendations that have been bestowed on him by his fellow police officers for his valor and the honor which he has brought his department, are truly remarkable for a person his age. His entire family is incredibly proud of his life’s work for good.
(To be continued, Monday, Jan. 25)
