Justin “Jutty” Stawinski started early in his life caring for people. He wanted to be a firefighter since he was old enough to talk.
At age 14, he joined the Sarver Volunteer Fire Company as a Junior Firefighter. He often rode his bicycle from home to the Fire Station or was driven by his family, when there was a fire call, to offer help at the station. When he turned 16 and was able to drive, he went to every call he could.
He seldom missed the trainings offered by the Fire Companies. He was driven to learn.
He also started EMT classes and received his EMT certification. He then set his sights on becoming a Paramedic. He trained and tested and became a Paramedic.
He worked as a Paramedic for various companies and was also employed as a Firefighter/Paramedic for the Fire Department of North Versailles.
Jutty was a very avid hunter and fisherman and loved going with his dad.
He could spend an entire day from sun up to sun down fishing.
If he wasn’t fishing, then he was hunting. He especially liked teaching others to fish and hunt.
His other passion was cooking. He loved to cook for people and watch them enjoy his food!
He above all loved to laugh and make others laugh.
Jutty was the only child of Mark and Jackie. His wonderful family was of the utmost importance to him. They were a close-knit bunch that loved each other beyond measure.
He considered all of his EMS co-workers as family.
Despite having his family, friends, and many passions, Jutty struggled with depression for nearly half of his life. It is this reality that allowed him to offer the depth of compassion for others struggling with mental illness. He knew all too well what it felt like. Unfortunately, Jutty was too ashamed and embarrassed to share his battles with most people. He despised that part of himself and attempted to hide it away from the world, even himself. Having the opportunity and ability to help or save someone left him soaring high, but when he felt like he failed and lost someone, he plummeted to rock bottom.
In July of 2015, he lost his fight with depression and mental illness as he devastatingly took his own life.
To honor his memory, Jutty’s Journey was created to help First Responders that may find themselves in need.
