Heroes of Lower Fairfield County

Towns of Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, & New Canaan 

Law Enforcement Award

Officers Pjatak, Lynch, Comerford, Perrotta, and Deiso - Stamford

 
Several residents of Greenwich Avenue in Stamford are grateful that police officers were on the scene in March 2007, when three homes caught on fire. Stamford Police Officer Tom Pjatak was working an extra duty assignment when he noticed that a house was on fire and that it was rapidly spreading to surrounding residences. He quickly responded, calling for backup, and selflessly began entering the burning homes in order to evacuate any persons that might still be inside. Other officers arrived on the scene in less than one minute, and all worked to ensure the safety of all residents in the wake of the spreading fire. No serious injuries were reported, and all residents were evacuated. Sergeant R. Littlejohn commended all officers, including Pjatak, Lynch, Comerford, Perrotta and Deiso, for their quick actions and bravery in this incident.

Firefighter Award

Sean Gage - Stamford

Even when Stamford Firefighter Sean Gage is off-duty, Wolfpit Running Club members recently witnessed that he is certainly on the clock at all times. There were over 500 runners at a half marathon run in Ridgefield in October 2007, including Gage. According to his nominator, “Early in the run a long-time member of the club and avid runner suffered a sudden debilitating cardiac even and fell to the road in full cardiac arrest.” Gage was one of several people who rushed to his aid, and he quickly assessed the fallen runner and began administering CPR. When paramedics arrived, Gage continued to assist until the runner was transported to the hospital, where he made a full recovery. His nominator commented that his bravery was a tribute to both his “professionalism” and “compassion.”

Medical Award (2)

Donna-Marie Manasseh, M.D. and Linda Chriscoe - Stamford

The more we raise awareness about the importance of early detection and treatment of breast cancer, the more lives will be saved and the closer we come to finding a cure for this disease. Adding support to the campaign are Linda Chriscoe and Dr. Donna-Marie Manasseh, who both dedicate much of their working and free time educating and speaking out on the fight against breast cancer.

Chriscoe is a survivor of the disease and now has become a tireless advocate for the cause. Although she works full time, she spends hundreds of hours working on planning and event committees as Chairperson for Stamford’s Paint the Town Pink Campaign in October. A friend of Chriscoe’s noted that she is “in her element” when working for the cause.

Dr. Manasseh is a breast surgeon and co-director of the Women’s Breast Center at Stamford Hospital. Not only does she work to treat and educate women during working hours, she told the hospital that she would “speak anywhere, anytime, five nights a week,” if needed. Dr. Manasseh is able to tailor her message for the audiences to whom she speaks, and has rearranged her schedule for the past three years so that she could take part in the Paint the Town Pink Campaign. She and Chriscoe often speak together during the month to inform and empower women of all ages, from high school seniors to the elderly. With all this going on, Dr. Manasseh has somehow found time to expand her office hours in order to see all patients who needed her.

Their nominator concluded, “With the growing amount of awareness, more and more women are being screened and cancers are being caught in early stages when they are most treatable and there is the most chance for cure.” No doubt Chriscoe and Dr. Manasseh are looking forward to the day there is a cure as well.

Kathy Carley-Spanier, RN, MS - Greenwich

Even in her off-hours, Kathy Carley-Spanier is the consummate nurse.  “When a police officer stopped his vehicle and hurriedly crossed the street in front of Kathy’s car, she instinctively stopped and followed. She noticed that the officer had an alarmed look on his face as she followed him into a store to see if she could help. Inside, they found a woman who had just given birth to a premature baby boy, only seconds old. The newborn was dusky in color, not breathing well and had a limp tone. Kathy, who teaches infant CPR, told the baby and opened the baby’s airway. The baby started to breathe. The EMS team arrived and together as a team they cared for the infant. Once the baby was pink and wrapped in towels, he was transported to the Greenwich Hospital NICU in stable condition. Although Kathy has declined recent offers to transfer to Women and Children’s Services at Greenwich Hospital, she was a frequent visitor to the NICU, checking up on her new little friend.” 

Good Samaritan Adult Award

Nancy Myder – Stamford

When B.B. King came to town in February 2007, the Stamford Center for the Arts could predict that there would be a packed house. However, there was no way for them to predict that two guests of the performance would require medical attention before the end of the night. Luckily, volunteer usher and Stamford Hospital nurse, Nancy Myder, was helping out that evening and quickly rose to the occasion.

Just before the concert began, Myder learned that a woman had lost consciousness in the balcony. She rushed to her side, and after determining that the woman was no longer breathing, began to administer CPR and applied the automated external defibrillator (AED) that the Arts Center keeps on its premises. Paramedics arrived quickly, and the performance began soon after.

However, that wasn’t the only guest who would need attention on that evening. During intermission, Myder was informed that a boy’s father was having trouble breathing and after administering CPR and the AED, he was also quickly transported to the Stamford Hospital. The Arts Center considers Myder to be “gracious” and “always willing to help out.” Her ability to stay calm under pressure is just one of the many reasons she is an outstanding and life-saving volunteer.

Good Samaritan Youth Award

Samantha Stone – Stamford

As her nominee puts it, while most teens are more concerned with getting their driver’s licenses and hanging out with friends, Stamford teen Samantha Stone is reaching out and giving back to her community through a group she co-conceived, the Happy Club for Teens. The group has been featured many times in the Stamford Advocate, Stamford Times and El Sol.

Stone and a friend developed the club to help teens focus on personal growth and development while also making a community impact. The club has grown to about 40 members from approximately 14 area high schools since it began, and is not sponsored or associated with any school, religious or community organization. In it’s first year, the club planned and participated in an astounding number of events and activities, including food drives for the lower Fairfield County Food Bank (collecting over 1,000 lbs), planting a “Memory Garden” at Fort Stamford to honor soldiers who have died in Iraq while serving our country, assisting in the set up of the March of Dimes walk-a-thon, and forming a team to participate in the “Clean Up the Sound” in conjunction with Soundwaters.

In addition to the Happy Club, Stone is an active participant in the Friendship Circle, which brings together teenage volunteers and children with special needs. While volunteering, Stone has formed a particular bond with a young girl whom she has been visiting on Sundays for the past four years. Stone’s nominator highlights her “tremendous leadership qualities, compassion for those who are in need, and…sincere commitment in making a difference in the world starting with her own backyard.”

Animal Rescue Award

Meredith Sampson – Greenwich

For over 15 years, Meredith Sampson has been selflessly volunteering her services to Stamford Animal Control, making herself available at all hours of the day. Sampson helps the Animal Control center with all animals in need, no matter how sick or injured. While many who have started non-profits to help animals in need have since closed their doors, Sampson has been an unwavering figure to the center for years. She has donated not only her time and love, but has helped financially when animals are in need of care. Although they are unable to say it, to many of the animals who pass through Animal Control, Sampson is a hero.

Safety Professional Award (2)

Joe Pearson and Steven Bear – New Canaan

As a police officer, you never know what to expect when you are dispatched to a call. However, in October 2007, the cool headedness and quick thinking of New Canaan Police Officers Joe Pearson and Steven Bear helped save the life of an elderly man. The officers were dispatched after they had been informed of a possible cardiac arrest on October 2, 2007. When they arrived, they located a 78-year-old male who was unresponsive and had a faint pulse. With the help of an automated external defibrillator (AED), the officers were able to determine that he did not need a shock and instead performed CPR until paramedics arrived. The patient was then transported to the hospital and recovered soon after. Their nominators concluded that both officers “acted professionally and brought credit to themselves and the New Canaan Police Department.” The officers received a Medical Service Award through the police department for their bravery.

Ryan McAllister and Troy Judge – Stamford

Quick thinking and fast action saved the life of an elderly male at the Holy Name Church in Stamford. In September 2007, Officers Ryan McAllister and Troy Judge were called on the scene after a call was made that an elderly male had fallen to the floor during a dance and was unresponsive. When the officers arrived, they quickly retrieved and administered the automated external defibrillator (AED) machine while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. Miraculously, the male regained consciousness after receiving the first shock and was transported to Stamford Hospital shortly after, where he was expected to recover.

Military Support Award (2)

Gayle Lucas – Darien

To say that Darien resident Gayle Lucas supports our troops is an understatement—the unwavering generosity and kindness she has shown to soldiers overseas has brought smiles, laughter, and comfort to what can otherwise be an overwhelming situation. It all started when she volunteered with Operation Noble Foster, a Department of Defense "America Supports You" organization, to provide a foster home for cats of troops who are called to duty. Lucas housed two cats for a Connecticut soldier while he was away, and, upon the advice of a friend, began sending care packages to him in Kuwait. She soon realized that others would enjoy receiving care packages as well, and mailed out boxes to three soldiers to share with their battalion.

After receiving thank-you letters from these soldiers, Lucas knew how much the troops appreciated hearing from civilians. She currently sends 30-40 letters and multiple "I CARE" packages every month to troops in Kuwait and Iraq.  These have included homemade brownies that are desert-safe and meet Middle East guidelines, Cool Ties for the Troops, dried fruit, T-shirts, games, and AAFES phone cards. But one package to the troops stood out among the rest—a swimming pool. Although it began as a joke between herself and a soldier, Lucas surprised them by sending a pool, rubber ducks, and shovels and pails filled with shells from the beach. She is also willing to send out packages on behalf of others who wish to contribute.

In 2007, Lucas was nominated for a United States Army Support Award and the prestigious Congressional Medal of Honor Society's inaugural Above & Beyond Citizen Honors which honors persons who “demonstrate service over self.” 

Michelle Pusser – Stamford

At the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering School in Stamford, support for our troops is overflowing, thanks to social studies teacher Michelle Pusser. Pusser is committed to letting the overseas soldiers know how much what they do means to us back home and has organized several events to do so. In 2007, Pusser organized a highly successful “Adopt-a-Platoon” drive to support the 2^nd Infantry Combat Team, 2^nd Infantry Division. The drive collected and shipped over 60 cases of personal hygiene items, clothing, books, canned foods, suntan lotion and other objects from an extensive list. Students took part in the activity by developing banners and posters, collecting contributions, packing boxes, writing letters and e-mails and traveling to the post office to deliver the packages. Part of the Division, the 2^nd Brigade Combat Team, returned home safely in 2007 and Pusser has asked a senior non-commissioned officer to join her family for New Year’s as their guest.

Pusser also organized a breakfast Veteran’s Day celebration, in which she invited a number of veterans to visit the school in order to meet with the students and faculty and to discuss their military experiences and views. Some of these guests had recently returned from tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pusser also invited families of troops currently serving from the community.

The soldiers certainly appreciate all Pusser and her students do—they sent a flag that flew over their base on July 4 as well as awards signed by the command structure. They also regularly send e-mails. Pusser’s colleagues and principal also appreciate what she does, and that’s why they have nominated her for a Hero Award.

Community Impact Award

James Duffy – Stamford