The Connecticut State Firefighters Association, Hall of Fame Award is to recognize present and former members of an organized Fire Department that have served both their Fire Department, County and/or State-wide Fire Service Organizations above and beyond normal expectations, over an extended period of time. Inductees shall have demonstrated both leadership and motivation, for the betterment of the Fire Service, throughout Connecticut and the United States. These persons shall have contributed, in a positive way, to the enrichment of the
organizations that they represented.

Not only is the goal of this award to recognize those leaders, as outlined above, but also to encourage young people to join the Fire Service, both career and volunteer, and to continue to provide leadership and experience, throughout their Firefighting years. Also, to serve as a means of educating and informing the public about the important and indispensable service and protection that the Fire Service provides for the citizens of our communities, state and nation.

Connecticut State Firefighters Association Hall of Fame Class of 2017

William Abbott

William Abbott began his Fire Service Career as a Firefighter, with the City of Hartford, in 1980.  During the course of a 25 year period, he held the positions of Firefighter, Fire Prevention Inspector, Fire Prevention Lieutenant, Fire Prevention Captain/Deputy Fire Marshal and Fire Marshal.  After retiring from Hartford, he continued serving with the State of Connecticut as a Fire & Life Safety Specialist, Fire & Life Safety Supervisor and ultimately, as the State Fire Marshal.

Fire Marshal Abbott has had affiliations with a number of professional organizations, including being a Member and Board Director of the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association, a Member and President of the Capitol Region Fire Marshals Association, a Member of the Windham County Fire Marshals Association, a Member of New London County Fire Marshals Association, a Member of the Connecticut Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators, the State Emergency Response Commission, the National Association of State Fire Marshals, the International Fire Marshal Association, the Fire Marshal Training Council and the Connecticut Youth Set Fire Statewide Steering Committee.

Additionally, he has served as a Commissioner with the State’s Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, as a member of the National Fire Protection Association’s 1037 Fire Marshal Professional Qualifications Committee, as a member of the Task Force to Study Hoarding, the Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster Contest and the Connecticut Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition.

Fire Marshal Abbott has also been assigned to assist the United States Secret Service, on numerous occasions, to advise and assist with Presidential and Vice Presidential visits.

Edward B. Amatrudo

Edward Amatrudo was undoubtedly a legend in the spectrum of Connecticut’s Fire Service.  He began his fire service with the North Branford Volunteer Fire Department, where three generations of the Amatrudo Family have served, rising to the rank of Captain of Headquarters Company 1.  He then moved to Branford and affiliated with the Indian Neck Fire Company, where he served as a Firefighter and Company Officer.  In the late 1970’s, he accepted a promotion to become a Regional Vice President for the Prudential Insurance Company and moved to Trumbull.  There he joined the Nichols Fire Department and served as their Training Officer.  Upon his retirement from Prudential, he moved to Guilford, where he served as their Fire Department’s Training Officer.  At the same time, he went from teaching part-time for the Connecticut Fire Academy, to do so, on nearly full-time basis.  Ed was one of two individuals that developed the curriculum of what are today’s Fire Officer I & II Certification Programs.  Next, Ed and his wife purchased the Captain Stannard Inn, in Westbrook and moved to that town.  There, he served the Westbrook Fire Department as a Training Instructor.  His final Fire Service position was as the career Fire Chief of the Poquonnock Bridge Fire District, in Groton.  In conjunction with his employment at Poquonnock Bridge, he and his wife purchased a shorefront home in Noank, where he became an active member, trainer and apparatus driver of the Noank Fire Department.

Chief Amatrudo was a proud and active member of many national and state Fire Service organizations.  Additionally, he taught countless Connecticut Fire Academy Programs, at which virtually every aspiring Fire Officer eagerly participated.

A U.S. Air Force veteran, who served during the Korean Conflict, he was also a member of the Ancient Fife and Drum Corps, of North Branford, and the Ancient Mariners.  He also was very committed, as a volunteer with the Mystic Seaport, assisting with the restoration of historic vessels.

Ed Amatrudo also was the recipient of many commendations and awards, including the Groton Fire Officers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.  He also was the proud owner of a beautifully restored, antique, 1922 Reo Fire Truck.  From start to finish, Chief Amatrudo devoted nearly 70 years to the safety of the residents of the communities in which he lived.

Wayne Fletcher

Wayne Fletcher, of Ashford, was inducted to the Firefighters’ Hall of Fame, in the Class of 2017.  A member of the Ashford Fire Department, for over 40 years, he served in various ranks and offices including Treasurer, President, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief and Chief of Department.

Chief Fletcher has served as an Escort for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation ceremonies.  Active in many Fire Service Organizations, he served as a Director for the Eastern Connecticut (Willimantic) Fire Training School.  A Windham County Vice President of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, he also diligently served that Association on their Legislative, Audit, Credential and Memorial Committees.

Charles Flynn

Charles “Chuck” Flynn has the unique distinction of having been the Chief of the Department in two Connecticut communities.  First, he was the volunteer Chief of the Wethersfield Department and later, was the career Chief of the Suffield Fire Department.

Chief Flynn holds professional certifications as a Firefighter III, Fire Officer IV and Fire Instructor II.  He was co-chairman of the Connecticut State Firefighters Conventions in 1994 and 2003, and Co-Chairman of the Wethersfield Fire Department’s 200^th Anniversary Celebration.  He also served the Connecticut Fire Academy as an Adjunct Instructor.

Chuck was a member and leader of multiple state, regional and national Fire Service organizations.  He was a Member and President of the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association, a Member and Board Member of the New England Fire Chiefs Association, a Member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and Vice Chairman of their Volunteer and Combination Officers Section.  He was a member of the Connecticut Fire Department Instructors Association and was actively engaged in the recruitment and retention of Volunteer Firefighters and served as a member of the National Volunteer Fire Council.

Burt Hale

Burt Hale first joined the Westfield Fire Department, in Middletown, in 1962.  Over the years of service with Westfield, he held many offices – including Department Secretary, Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Chief and Chief.

Chief Hale was a Member, Secretary and President of the Middlesex County Fire Chiefs Association, a Member and Middlesex County Vice President of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association and a Member and Sergeant-at-Arms of the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association.

Kevin Kowalski

Kevin J. Kowalski, of Simsbury, has an extensive history with Connecticut Fire Services – in multiple disciplines of Volunteer, Career, Industrial, Military and Commercial.

Beginning with his joining the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Department, in 1974, he moved through their ranks, becoming Assistant Chief and serving as Company President.  Additionally, from 1977-1988, Kowalski was the Fire Chief of the Kaman Aerospace Corporation.  From 1976-2000, he was a Master Sergeant – Assistant Chief of Operations with the Connecticut Air National Guard.  He is the Town of Simsbury Civil Preparedness – Emergency Management Director and the Chief Administrative Officer of the Simsbury Fire District.  In the CAO role, one of his multiple responsibilities is to serve the District as their Fire Marshal.

Fire Marshal Kowalski holds an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science, as well as numerous other training and certifications, including, but not limited to Connecticut Fire Marshal Certifications, Fire Instructor Certification, U.S. Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Fire Safety Officer Certification, Fire Officer I-III Certifications, Hazardous Materials Technician Certification and a Medical Response Technician Certification.  He has successfully completed a number of programs at the National Fire Academy and New Mexico Tech.

Very active in many local and national professional organizations, Kowalski served as a Commissioner and Commission Vice Chairman of the Connecticut Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, also the Connecticut Fire Service Joint Council, on their Legislative Committee and on the state’s Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection – Commissioners Advisory Board.  He was also appointed as a member of the State of Connecticut’s Fire Prevention Code Advisory Committee.

Kevin held memberships in the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association, the Connecticut Arson Investigators Association and served with the Capitol Region Planning Committee, where he is a Past President and member of their Legislative Committee.  He is a Past President and Legislative Committee Chairman for the Capitol Region Fire Marshals Association, as well as a Past President and Board Member of the New England Fire Marshals Association.

Additionally, he has been an Instructor at the Connecticut Fire Academy and the Hartford County Fire School.

James O’Neil

James O’Neil joined the Crescent Hose Company No. 2, of the Thomaston Fire Department, in 1976, where he ably served as Company Steward, 2^nd Lieutenant, Assistant Chief and ultimately as the Chief of the Thomaston Fire Department.

Chief O’Neil is a long-time employee of the State of Connecticut – Office of the State Fire Marshal, where he has served as a Fire and Life Safety Specialist.

Active in many Fire Service Organizations, Jim is a Past President of the Litchfield County Fire Chiefs Association, a former Litchfield County Vice President of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association (CSFA) and President of the CSFA in 2013-2014.  He also served the CSFA, as a member of their Merit Awards and Audit Committees.  He also held membership in the Connecticut State Firefighters Irregulars Association.

Additionally, starting in his youth, and into his adulthood, Jim has been a proud supporter, instructor and participant in the Drum Corps arena.

George H. Quinn

George H. Quinn served over 40 years with the Bethany Fire Department and their Ambulance Corps.  During those years, he held the offices of Ambulance Lieutenant, Ambulance Captain, Fire Captain, Assistant Fire Chief and ending as their Fire Chief, from 1988-2002.  He was also the leader of Bethany’s Boy Scout Fire Explorer Post 39.

During his years of service in Bethany, Chief Quinn was very hard-working, dedicated and successful.  Amongst his accomplishments there was serving on New Ambulance and Fire Apparatus Purchase Committees and serving as the Committee Chairman for the Addition to their Center Station Building.  George also was the leader in formulating Mutual Aid Agreements, with neighboring communities, overseeing an addition to their Hinman Station and a second addition, and remodeling to the Center Station.  During his leadership, the Department also transferred their communications systems from the Bethany State Police Barracks to the New Haven CMED.  Also, one of his foremost accomplishments was establishing both Recruitment and Retirement Plans for the Fire Department and Ambulance Corps.  Additionally, a Scholarship Fund was created, to assist college bound children of the Department’s members.

Quinn was so well known for his charitable and philanthropic actions.  During a winter blizzard, he took responsibility to send one of their ambulances to New London, to transport a child, in an incubator, to Yale-New Haven Hospital for lifesaving support, as no other ambulances were available, in the area.  Also, when the home of a Volunteer Firefighter, from the neighboring town of Seymour, burnt down after a lightning strike, George, a very well know and accomplished building tradesman, oversaw the reconstruction of that home, coordinating the labor of hundreds of volunteer workers.

Chief Quinn held memberships in the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association, the New Haven County Emergency Plan and the Valley Fire Chiefs Association, where he was one of the founding organizers and also served as their President.  He was also a member of the Connecticut Fire Department Instructors Association.

Throughout his years of service, he was also a very highly motivated student of the Fire Service and Emergency Medical Services, much of which he attended at out-of-state facilities and academies, in Delaware, Maryland and New Hampshire, as in-depth training, in Connecticut, was still in its infancy and being developed.  He also received considerable training through the Connecticut Fire Academy and many of the Regional Fire Training Schools.

Chief Quinn was the recipient of many awards from the public sector, as well as the Fire Service.

Clarence Rees

Clarence Rees started his Fire Service role as a Volunteer Firefighter with the Hope Hose Company 2, of Norwalk, then became Chief of the Oolitic, Indiana Fire Department, and later, served over 40 years with the Bethel Volunteer Fire Department, where he held the posts of Lieutenant, Captain, Trustee, Vice President and President.  He was honored as the Bethel Firefighter of the Year, in 1987.

A longtime member, and Past President of the Fairfield County Fire Chiefs Emergency Plan – he also served his County, for multiple terms, as the County Vice President of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association.   Clarence was also a very active member of the Connecticut State Firefighters Irregulars Association, diligently serving on their Nominating Committee.

David A. Sanford

David A. Sanford, a resident of West Redding, fulfilled a Fire Service Career for four decades.

He first joined the West Redding Fire Department, in 1962 and completed the first Fireman Training Course, in November of that year.  He remained a member of that Department until his passing, serving them as their Deputy Fire Marshal, Fire Marshal and Chief of the Department.  In 1969, he became a Career Firefighter with the Danbury Fire Department, serving there until 1972, when he moved to the Wilton Fire Department, where he served as a Lieutenant and then, as Deputy Chief.  Ultimately, from 1980 through 1987, he was the Deputy Fire Chief for the Westport Fire Department.  After his retirement, he continued working, in Fire Equipment Sales, for Shipman’s Fire Equipment, out of Waterford.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served honorably in Vietnam.  He was the recipient of the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal (with V device) and the Good Conduct Medal.

Also an Emergency Medical Technician and a very active Drum Sergeant with the Connecticut Firefighters Pipes and Drums, Firefighter Training was Chief Sanford’s foremost desire and motivation.  He was an Instructor for the Connecticut Fire Academy and an Adjunct Professor at Waterbury State Technical College.  David was one of the “foundation stones” of the Connecticut Fire Academy.  Prior to the creation of the Academy, Firefighter training was the purview of local or regional instructors, working for their respective Departments of one of the Regional Fire Schools.  He was one of the two people that were selected to attend the National Fire Academy’s course in Instructor Methodology, which led to Connecticut being the first State to teach Fire Service Instruction.

Robert G. Sawyer, III

Robert G. Sawyer, III, a resident, at various times, of the Town of North Stonington, Niantic, Killingworth and Westerly, Rhode Island, was associated with emergency services for over 50 years.  He held an Associate’s Degree, in Fire Science and Technology, from the Connecticut State Technical Colleges, and both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees, in Fire Protection, from the University of New Haven.

He began his career as a Firefighter with the Electric Boat (General Dynamics) Fire Department, located in the City of Groton.  While there, he joined the North Stonington Volunteer Fire Department and worked his way up to the rank of Chief.  He was also affiliated with the Ambulance Corps and the Rescue Squad, in Westerly, Rhode Island – who awarded him the title of Honorary Member.  Additionally, he spent time with the Killingworth (CT) Fire Department, holding the rank of Lieutenant.

At various times, he held positions as a Risk Field Engineer for the Factory Insurance Association, Fire Marshal at the Electric Boat’s Quonset facility, Senior Administrative Engineer with American Nuclear Insurers, as a Fire Protection Engineer with Johnson & Higgins and as a Senior Fire Protection Engineering Specialist for Travelers Insurance.

A member of the National Fire Protection Association and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, he was an Instructor for the Connecticut Fire Academy and a Senior Instructor for the Eastern Connecticut Firemen’s Training School, in Willimantic.

It is said that his crowning achievement was being a highly regarded Professor, and ultimately, the Director of the Public Safety/Fire Science Department at the University of New Haven.

Nomination Forms are encouraged and are available by clicking this link. Nominations can be submitted at any time. Traditionally, there is a cutoff date, during the month of November. Nominations are then reviewed and those selected, for induction, are notified during the following January. The annual induction dinner/ceremony is traditionally held the following April. The submitted nomination packet describes the nominee’s positions, deeds, accomplishments, awards of distinction, lengths of service and other pertinent information – including, but not limited to other worthwhile community services and recognitions.

Headshots may be submitted by email to webmaster@csfa.org.