Family members of a Pittsfield firefighter who died on Oct. 17 have set up an online scholarship fund in his name to, in the words of his stepmother, “pass on his legacy.”

Karen Noble organized the fund on the crowdsourcing website Gofundme, in the name of her stepson, Zachary. She said he died of “a major cardiac event” at age 27 while exercising on the track at Maine Central Institute. 

The fund has a $10,000 goal, and as of Monday morning had already raised more than $2,700. Zachary Noble served as both firefighter and EMT in Pittsfield and the fund, Karen Noble said, will be used to provide annual scholarships to students taking EMT courses in the Pittsfield area.

Noble described her stepson as being committed to firefighting long before he was old enough to be one.

“Zach comes from a family of firefighters and EMT’s,” she said. “From the time he was in diapers, he was at the fire station rolling hoses or riding shotgun in the ambulance with his grandfather.”

Noble said her stepson also served as fleet and facilities coordinator for the local ambulance corp, and worked on renovating the local ambulance garage in his spare time. 

“His talent soon grew into a passion for helping others, learning all that there was to learn and be the best that he could be,” she said.

Noble said she hoped the Gofundme fund would serve as a legacy for Zachary, and allow for something in his name to continue to help others, as her stepson did in life.

“In this day and age, it is rare to find an individual like Zach and for him to be taken so soon is terrible,” she said. “Please, please help us continue his journey and continue his work.”

Donations can also be mailed to:

Zach Noble Scholarship Fund
C/O Chief Bernard Williams
115 First St.
Pittsfield, ME 04967