I’ve known Glovis for over twenty years as a friend, Bronco fan, and coworker. I have many, many stories. That being said, family and co-workers alike can laugh with me knowing we have many more stories that could never be published, laughing out loud… One of my fondest memories that I can pass on happened a few years back. We had responded to a real bad car accident with multiple patients on scene. Glovis was working AirCare and I was EMS1 on the ground. After they landed the helicopter Glovis was sent over to help one of my crews stabilize the driver who had been ejected. This patient needed an advanced airway placed in the back of the ambulance. The equipment was out, RSI drugs had been given, and the procedure was almost ready to be performed. Glovis in a very seamless move reached in and took the lyingascope from one of my medic’s and intubated the patient in less than 10 seconds (1st attempt) helping to save that patient’s life. I’m sure that call is one of many lives saved that can be attributed to Glovis’s high level of training and professionalism. He will be missed…
- Matthew G. Moon, Paramedic/EMS1/Friend
Let me start by saying there could not be a better person to work or be friends with. Glovis always had a smile on and it was a great smile too. He made me laugh every day. He would greet me by saying “What’cha doing boss? Let’s go for a motorcycle ride!” Even if he had a long night on the medic unit/truck he would call and want to "get breakfast, boss?" He would send me text messages in Navajo, trying to get me to speak some of the language. Glovis was always willing… “let’s go fly!” He made those around him feel comfortable and offered reassurance. He could be private but he loved to share things in regards to his family, his Army service, medicine and motorcycles. He and I rode motorcycles together in the mountains and in the desert. He always wanted me to go to Sturgis with him. I wish I would have now. We had beers together, worked, conversed, cussed and discussed. Some of the things he would commonly say were "G's got you!", “Saved another one!”, “I got ya!” I do hope he knows how loved, missed, respected and admired he was to me and others.
- Brent Hamilton NRP/RN, CFRN, AirCare-Flight Supervisor
One evening after dark, AirCare 1 was toned out to a vehicle that drove off a cliff into the river banks south of Navajo Dam. Due to the cliffs and inaccessible terrain, AirCare 1 found a flat dry area south of the accident on the river bank. As I assessed the location of our landing zone and the access to the patient, it became apparent there is a forest of Russian olives blocking our route. I turned to Glovis for guidance and he simply looked at me and said “We are hiking up river, brother.” With a grin on his face, we grabbed our bags and equipment and started up river. Luckily the river was never more that knee deep but there we were, wet footed and making progress to our patient. Glovis was my lead and helped me manage the patient in a chaotic scene, he did this with optimism, joy, and purpose. He always brought his happy go lucky attitude to all that he did and this wild scene call was no different. Once we were able to extricate the patient from underneath the vehicle and place him on a long back board, we looked at each other anticipating the difficult hike down river. Again, he had a grin on his face and was ready to tackle the difficult mission. Turns out the Park Rangers were able to use their chain saws to cut a path though the dense and thorny Russian olives back to our Helicopter. It was an experience I will never forget and it was Govis’s disposition that gave me the confidence to do the unexpected and think creatively and serve our patient. Glovis will always be remembered for the smile on his face and the encouragement he gave in times of difficulty. He was a mentor for me as a new flight nurse and a respected teammate for all AirCare. I will never forget him and will cherish my memories of him. RIP my friend.
With a grateful heart,
- Robbie Donald RN, CFRN, AirCare Flight Nurse
Glovis and I were partners on the ground ambulance before he went off to the Army. He returned to EMS and eventually joined AirCare. Glovis was always good at his job. He was a good EMT partner on the ambulance, then a solid paramedic, and eventually an accomplished flight medic. But mostly, Glovis was a great guy. He made long shifts on the trucks, airplane or helicopter enjoyable. He ALWAYS had a great attitude. He was optimistic even after terrible calls. He was funny when times were tense. He cared deeply about the people he worked with and the patients he cared for. We had an occasion when I got a call from the front desk of the ER. The receptionist said a patient wanted to talk to me. I went down to meet the person and she told me how she had crashed her 4-wheeler and Glovis has saved her with an airway when she needed one. I told her we lucked out as Glovis was on-duty. We were able to get everyone together. Everyone cried tears of joy. Glovis was so proud and happy to have been there in her time of need. I don’t like to say we “save” anyone, but Glovis truly saved her life. Of course, Glovis liked to say that. He always said he was “Saving lives and breaking hearts”. It breaks my heart to know he’s gone.
- Mike Berve, AirCare and Trauma Manager
I knew Glovis for a long time. I think everyone that knew Glovis liked him. He was the kind of person that could strike up a friendly conversation any time. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He used to be my relief at the Aztec station of the ambulance. I think people who knew Glovis well knew that he was invariably late. He would commute from Shiprock and Aztec was the furthest station from his home. Many times he would call me ten minutes before shift change to tell me that he thought he was working at Kirtland and went to that station and he would be a little late getting to Aztec. But he would stay as late as I needed if I ran into a delay. It is those little things I miss.
Glovis used to teach anyone that showed an interest how to speak Navajo. It was always nice to have him with me when we would take care of Navajo speaking elders. I knew that there experience was always going to be better than me struggling to communicate. He was kind of a joker though…I think some of the words he taught me may not have quite meant what he said they did. He would always chuckle about that. I would make sure to run those words or phrases by other Navajo speaking people… just to make sure!
One time about 10 years ago a group of us from Aircare went to Fort Lauderdale for an Air Medical Transport Conference. Liz and I were walking along the beach sidewalk site seeing and started up a conversation with a Lifeguard. At some point in the conversation she aske where we were from. When we told her the Four Corners area she said, “Oh, do you know someone named Grover or Glover?” Liz and I laughed., “You mean Glovis?” “Oh yeah, Glovis!”. That was Glovis, able to make friends anywhere! We sure do miss him!
- Steven Malarchick , DNP
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