Wendy E. Domster

Wendy E. Domster (1976) is a firefighter for the City of Santa Clara, CA where she was one of the first women firefighters hired by the Department in 1989. Today, she is a hazardous materials specialist and one of nine women on the 160-person workforce.

After graduating from North, Wendy attended Cazenovia College, earning an associate's degree in physical education and the school's Humanitarian Award for her volunteer activity. She went on to Alfred University where she earned a bachelor's of fine arts degree with honors. Following graduation, Wendy worked as a self-employed artist and sculptor before moving to California and taking a job as a specialized welder for a sailboat maker.

Her athleticism served her well when she decided to become a firefighter. In fact, she became an internationally ranked Fire Fighter's Combat Challenge Athlete and was featured on the cover of Parade Magazine in 1998 for an article about women in non-traditional jobs.

Wendy is involved in community service work as an active volunteer for organizations such as the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation dedicated to supporting the lives of burn survivors, the Senior Assist Program, The Better Things Program, and the Home Emergency Assistance Training (HEAT) program. She has recommitted herself to her other passion - art - creating interactive sculptures using recycled materials. Her work has been featured in several exhibitions in California as her reputation as an environmental artist gains momentum and it is art that she would like to make her final profession. Wendy resides in Santa Cruz, CA.