People from several communities came together Friday to celebrate the life of a first responder who died on the job late last year.
Police say Nicholas Theofilis, 23, was driving an ambulance at the time of the deadly crash in November, which happened at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Morewood Avenue in Shadyside. The paramedic was responding to a call.
Theofilis was a volunteer firefighter with the Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department and an EMT with White Oak and Penn Hills.
On Friday, people crammed into Carnivores in Oakmont to celebrate his life.
"He was the youngest oldest man I've ever met, an old soul completely and he was just born to serve," says Katie Shimko, friend of Nicholas. "It's hard, his birthday just passed yesterday, he would've been 24.
It's just sad, somebody whose been in your life forever that so unexpectedly goes."
Shimko helped organize Friday's event, which helped support Theofilis' family. All proceeds from the 50-plus raffle baskets and 20 percent of food and liquor sales went to the family.
"He had a great sense of humor, old people loved him young people loved him." Said family friends of Theofilis. "They risk their lives running into buildings, picking you up on the floor and I don't think we reward them enough."
Everyone who knew Theofilis is remembering him as a hero for his dedication to service.
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