Funeral Services Tonight for Fire Department Intern

Funeral services will be held tonight for Randy Wayne Reynaga, an intern in the Fountain Valley Fire Department, who died of a heart attack last week during a training session. He was 23.

Reynaga, of Fountain Valley, collapsed due to heart failure Saturday while helping out during physical agility testing for the city’s firefighters. He had volunteered to score events, fire officials said.

Services will be at 6:30 p.m. at St. Barbara’s Catholic Church, 730 S. Euclid St., Santa Ana. Following the service, a gathering will be held at the Fountain Valley Community Services Building, 10200 Slater Ave.

Reynaga’s fiancee, Dawn Matheny, 26, of Westminster, said he died doing what he loved the most.

Matheny said Reynaga was planning on a career in fire prevention and was pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Cal State L.A. He graduated from Rancho Santiago College, earning two associate degrees, one in fire prevention.

In 1991, Matheny said, Reynaga had open heart surgery to replace the aortic valve. After his surgery, he became involved in helping others undergoing similar surgery, she said. He founded a support group this year at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center.

Fire Chief Richard E. Jorgensen said Reynaga was an asset during his 1 1/2 years in the department.

“He loved the fire service and the work we do. One of the best things Randy added to our department was his positive attitude and his cheerfulness,” said Jorgensen, who added that Reynaga also worked for Orange Fire Department as a volunteer in fire prevention.

Reynaga is survived by his parents, Angel and Linda Reynaga, and a sister, Stacy, all of Fountain Valley; great-grandmother Lela Hill of Westminster; grandparents Fred and Darlene King of Palm Desert; and grandmother Vera Reynaga of Mira Loma.