20 Years, 20 Stories – Carine Chalfoun: More Than a Leader, a Superhero
Years Active: 2012-2020
For Carine Chalfoun’s 50th birthday party, attendees were told to dress as superheroes. And despite only one of her friends dressed as Carine, all in attendance thought of her as their favorite superhero. Carine-as-a-superhero describes her and the life she led. Six months after her party, she passed away, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of many and on the many organizations she supported and loved, including TEXSAR.
According to Carine’s friends, her commitment to the first responder world was because of her blend of grittiness and willingness to go into situations that most people run away from, along with her love of people, particularly those she served for and alongside of.
When she was not working for agencies, she volunteered with organizations. She was non-stop– a “force of nature” some would say—a lifelong characteristic that connected her to the first responder world when she was 16 and became a volunteer with the emergency medical service in the New Jersey town that she grew up in. At 23, she moved to Austin and immediately began to serve, first with the City of Austin Emergency Medical Services. She also became involved in law enforcement. She joined TEXSAR at the beginning of the organization’s existence and made her imprint from the outset.
As one longtime TEXSAR member stated, “Carine was the Deputy Emergency Manager who oversaw and coordinated 11 agencies in the aftermath of the disastrous balloon crash in Lockhart in 2016. It was an intense situation. She masterfully managed the personnel involved, while showing her love and care for all involved, including the families of the victims and the volunteers. It was scorching hot, and, amidst it all, Carine was handing out cold towels to the volunteers.”
Everyone who spent any time around Carine learned from the experience, an indication of her commitment to, and expectation of, excellence. A former TEXSAR volunteer who is a professional in the emergency management realm, said, “I learned more from Carine than anywhere else. My career was enhanced by my interactions with her.”
It has been said by many that Carine’s legacy is that of others doing well. She wanted to see everyone succeed! Her passion for the mission meant she wanted everything to be done right, and she was always capable of explaining to others in ways so that they understood what she was sharing, which always ended up being a form of teaching. People understood her because she cared so much that they would.
One of her best friends said that most people did not see her softer side. “That side became more obvious as she became more sick,” he said, “but it was always inside her. Her dedication and professionalism made her hold it in, but her actions were rooted in love of others.”
Carine expressed her love for others in many ways that involved doing things and not specifically saying things. “She had a heart of gold,” one TEXSAR member said. “She crocheted a baby blanket for my granddaughter. I have no idea where she found the time for it. She never stopped. She had grocery bags at her front door with people’s names on them. She would put in the bags various items that she thought the intended people might want or need. If she knew she was going to see one of those people during the day, she would grab the items to be sure to give them to the person. Carine was always looking after everyone.”
Carine was known for, among a multitude of things, having the sharpest knife around, which makes for an interesting metaphor for her life. Experienced knife users know that the most effective and safest knives to use are those that are well-maintained and sharp, which comes about by dedication and commitment to maintaining a fine edge. Carine kept her edge. Carine’s dedication and commitment enabled her to always be effective in protecting the safety of others.
She was also known for her quick wit and sense of humor. Described as “mischievous” by others, Carine brought light to the life of others. A TEXSAR member shared that Carine was proof that a candle does not lose its light by sharing its own and its flame with others. “There was joy in her and others plugged into it.”
A TEXSAR award honors Carine’s legacy. The Carine Chalfoun Service Above Self Award was established in 2020 and honors a TEXSAR volunteer who personifies Carine’s unique blend of leadership, professionalism and love. The work of Linna Selbrede in 2024, TEXSAR’s 20th anniversary year, earned her the award which was presented in January 2025 at the TEXSAR members’ annual meeting and retreat. Linna said, “I never met Carine, she passed away just before I moved to Texas to drastically restart my life. To be selected by my peers to receive this award in honor of someone who was such a force of nature is one of the pinnacles of my life, one that has set a fire in me to work harder for my peers. They say ‘show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.’ With my teammates alongside me, I know our future will continue to be bright.”
Carine’s service-above-self spirit manifested everywhere, whether in the field, behind the scenes or serving on TEXSAR’s board. She brought the ideal of service into every moment of her life. Another long-time volunteer and TEXSAR leader said, “Carine had a first responder soul. She didn’t know any other way of living. TEXSAR and thousands of others are better for it.” That truth was evident by the thousands of first responders, volunteers and community members who lined the street for her funeral procession, along with the various truck and emergency apparatuses that were part of the motorcade.
Carine Christine Chalfoun, 1969-2020
Learn more about TEXSAR at www.TEXSAR.org.
TEXSAR: 20 Years, 20 Stories, is a series of people-centric stories that celebrate the history of TEXSAR’s heroics and humanity as its volunteers continue their mission of ‘Texans helping Texans’ with Service above Self. The sequence of stories and profiles will come together in 2024 and 2025, celebrating the nonprofit’s 20th anniversary. To read more, click here.
