The Wayne Center for Nursing and Rehab, located in Norwood, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, March 12, dedicating its Rehabilitation ADL Suite in honor of the late Marc Jansen Bolanos, a former U.S. Navy member and EMT.

 

Jansen Bolanos tragically and suddenly died on March 20, 2024, while training for the U.S. Navy in Great Lakes, Illinois at just 29 years of age. His father, Paul Bolanos, has served as a physical therapist at the Wayne Center, located at 3530 Wayne Avenue, for nearly 30 years.

Speaking to Norwood News on the day, the proud dad said, “I think this gesture is amazing. This dedication of this activity room that the facility has provided to him [Marc] and to me, it’s very touching.” He added, “It’s very important because what Marc believed, his character; it just translates to this activity room. He loves to take care of patients, and we love to take care of patients, so it just means a lot.”

 

Bolanos said as an EMT, Marc had worked at the FDNY’s EMS Station 26, located at 1264 Boston Road in Morrisania, for four years before going on military leave to train with the U.S. Navy. He recounted a story of how during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, his son had said to him, “Hey Dad! You know what this job taught me is that life is just so quick and because of that, you have to reflect on what you do to other people.”

Bolanos said that while Marc knew the dangers and risks involved in working on the front lines, he still chose to help people because “he took an oath, and he pledged to do his job regardless.”

 

The proud father concluded, saying, “[Marc] was really into servicing people and in being an EMT. He wanted to serve the local community.” The FDNY and Station 26 were in attendance to honor Marc’s life and service.

Polunin Natalia, who serves as division chief for the FDNY and who worked with Marc, said, “This is his legacy; he was an incredibly caring and kind, generous man. Station 26, like many other stations, [is] very tight. It’s truly a brotherhood, so when he passed away, it was a huge blow to the station.”

 

Natalia continued, “This is really what he was about, helping people. This space is going to be able to help people out so it’s just incredible. We’re very honored to even be invited here and be present for this ceremony and we are very grateful for the space.”

Meanwhile, Matt Molina, who also worked alongside Paul, as his partner at the FDNY, said of friend, “I miss him dearly he was such a fun and loving person. He always tried to put a smile on your face, and seeing this plaque here just warms my heart.”

 

Molina added, “Outside of his service of helping people and saving lives, he was a very down-to-earth person who would be there in your time of need.