Steve Olstein, Chief of Service
Steve joined Lyme EMS in 2018, first qualifying as a driver, then earning EMT certification in January 2019. A Marine Corps veteran and business executive with extensive experience in management, Steve was elected Chief of Service and appointed to the Board of Directors in June 2019.
As a real estate investment professional Steve Olstein knew his work made a difference in people’s lives. Creating wealth for retirement accounts and pension plans benefits millions of Americans, but there was little opportunity for a manager of a $20 billion real estate investment portfolio to see the direct effect on an individual’s life firsthand. With retirement approaching Steve knew the ‘view from 40,000 feet’ wasn’t enough anymore. He wanted to do something that provided immediate and tangible benefits to people in his community. He wanted to pursue his longstanding interest in emergency medical services (EMS).
Hear from Steve
Do people in Lyme have misconceptions about Lyme EMS?
Yes.
Most people mistakenly believe that the town of Lyme is the primary funding source for Lyme EMS when, in fact, it is donations from town residents that must cover all our monetary operating expenses and capital requirements. What the town does do is generously provide bay space in the firehouses, fuel for our ambulances, workers compensation insurance, and annual contributions to the pension plan for qualifying responders.
Another misconception is that Lyme EMS is part of Lyme Fire Company. It’s not. We are totally separate not-for-profit organizations that serve the community in different ways. While we work with Lyme Fire Company on emergencies in town and have enormous respect for their contributions to Lyme, we are two separate legal entities with separate governance, fundraising efforts, and our own brands of esprit de corps.
What is involved in training to be a responder with Lyme EMS and what qualities do you look for in new recruits?
Training takes time. I would like to paint it as a minimal investment, but it’s not. It’s a real commitment, almost a calling. Initially it is the up-front time required to qualify as a driver. Then the many hours of study needed to earn CT-certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Emergency Medical Responder (EMR). Finally, there is a period of supervised ‘ride-along’ training with Lyme EMS personnel before graduating to handling calls on your own.
We look for candidates with maturity, compassion, discipline, discretion, intelligence, common sense, and a big heart. If you have these attributes, you’ll view the time spent earning certification as a means to an end that more than justifies the effort. Volunteering with Lyme EMS is not for everyone, but for those of us that take this path, the work is very interesting and incredibly fulfilling. If you want to learn more about training to be a responder with Lyme EMS, visit Join Us and connect with Ariana Eaton our Deputy Chief and recruitment officer.
Lyme EMS has a Board of Directors. Who are they and what do they do?
The Board is essential — it is responsible for maintaining the legal, financial and regulatory infrastructure of Lyme Ambulance so the only thing that responders have to worry about is being ready for their shift and responding quickly when there is a call.
Led by a four-person Executive Committee and composed of members from the community and officers from the Operations Group, everyone on the Board is committed to the mission of providing the best possible emergency medical services and lifesaving education for the town of Lyme. We all benefit from the Board’s experience and insight. I am currently doing double-duty as Chief of Service and temporary Board President and it seems I am always beholden to one Board member or another for their counsel and guidance. The division of responsibility between the Board, the Executive Committee, and Operations (the responders) is very effective, and we are fortunate to have such a terrific Board of Directors for the Lyme Ambulance Association.
We always have an eye out for level-headed people with organizational management experience to fill Board openings as they arise. If anyone is interested in being considered for the Board, contact me at (860) 434-7225, ext. 5.
What do you wish everyone in town knew?
I wish everyone would grasp that effective emergency medical response is all about time: the more serious the emergency, the more critical it is that treatment starts sooner. We want our friends and neighbors to know as much as possible about potential medical emergencies based on the ages and health profile of their families AND we want them to become educated about what they can do to provide treatment in the 10 – 15 minutes it might take our responders to get to the scene. That is why we offer free classes in lifesaving techniques, and provide useful tips and advice on this website and in our free quarterly email newsletter. If you haven’t had a chance to sign up for the e-newsletter yet, send an email to: deputychief@lymeambulance.org.
I also wish everyone in Lyme knew how hard it can be to find a house in the middle of the night under emergency conditions when the house number is not clearly marked. If you have any doubts about your address visibility, call us at (860) 434-7225 and we will come out to check and fix it for you, if needed. Read the e-newsletter and scroll through this website for more ways you can help Lyme EMS provide you with the best possible response in a medical emergency.
Finally, I want all Lyme residents to know how dedicated our responders are. Not surprisingly, I often get very positive and sometimes even emotional feedback from people Lyme EMS has helped and that is very gratifying and always shared with the responders involved. I hope most Lyme residents will never need our services but I also hope they know and appreciate the sacrifices made to ensure that Lyme Ambulance is available to help them if they need us, anytime and every day. Based on the financial support we get from the community every year, I believe most do know.
How do you see Lyme EMS changing in the future?
It is increasingly difficult to recruit responders and the current generation’s responders are incredibly busy so their approach to volunteering is understandably different than in previous eras. I can foresee a time when it will be necessary to consider other ways of doing things. That could include compensating first responders, especially during working hours or on weekends when younger people are involved with their families; or merging local ambulance services or combining with other emergency management operations or some combination of all three — or even something else altogether. In any event, it will most likely necessitate exploring additional staffing models and sources of funds.
Tell us more about you…
Sgt. Olstein right after a parachute jump
Where did you grow up?
I grew up on the North Shore of Long Island, very close to Long Island Sound. I signed up with the Marines at 17 and got out at 21. Then I graduated from NYU in 1978 and lived in NYC for a few more years before moving to CT in 1983.
What did you do for a living?
I had a 40-year career with real estate investment advisory companies — firms that create real estate funds on behalf of pension funds, foundations, etc. Before retiring I was a portfolio manager for a $20+ billion fund with hundreds of office buildings, shopping centers, apartments, warehouses and hotels in major metro areas in the U.S. It was a great job. I met fascinating people and I was able to travel extensively throughout the U.S. and parts of Europe and Asia.
When did you move to Lyme?
After living in the Hartford area for twelve years I missed the connection to the water; I missed being able to take a boat out on Long Island Sound. Single at the time and needing something within reasonable commuting distance to work, I was lucky enough to find just what I wanted in Lyme: I bought the house in 1995 and my wife and daughter moved here full time in 2002. We very much enjoy living here — though, in my opinion, Lyme is one coffee shop or bistro (with wi-fi and bottomless cups of coffee) away from being perfect.
What are you passionate about?
My family, Hamburg Cove and Long Island Sound, Lyme EMS, fairness and racial, gender and ethnic equality.
Tell us about your family
I am a very lucky man!
My wife Lin was also in real estate investment and after taking 10 years off from working to be with our daughter, Lin reentered the workforce, switching careers to being an Investment Advisor. Our 22 year-old daughter is a recent college graduate and currently working on her Master’s Degree. We also have two wonderful step-children from a previous marriage. They live out of state and we visit our four step- grandchildren whenever we can.
And then there’s Lizzy, our 16 year-old apple-faced Siamese cat – she runs the house.
What do you like to do in your leisure time?
I enjoy baking bread, going out in our boat, birdwatching, and sous-chef’ing for Lin with cooking projects. And I love martinis and lamenting the day I had to stop smoking cigars.
What’s your favorite book? Movie? Style of music?
Favorite book: Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey;
Favorite movie: The best movies ever made, The Godfather and The Godfather II
Favorite music: Old country music (the outlaw period), operatic arias, and works by Chopin.
What would the Lyme EMS crew be surprised to learn about you?
I love people but am an introvert and very wary of them. I have had to learn how to work around that side of me and am so glad I did. People are fascinating. It is so interesting to get to know them, and exhilarating when there are real exchanges and I know I’ve been honored with a connection with the real person.