Zappos honors former CEO who died in CT house fire
Tony Hsieh left a legacy of development and innovation in downtown Las Vegas, and is now overlooking the area on building wraps around the headquarters of Zappos, where he served as CEO until last summer.
An image of Hsieh alongside the message “Thank you Tony” can be seen on wraps installed last week on two sides of the online retailer ’s downtown Las Vegas office building.
Hsieh, who died from injuries sustained in a house fire in New London in November 2020, retired in August as CEO of Zappos after 20 years leading the company.
He has been credited with helping revitalize downtown Las Vegas over the years.
“The building wrap was done in commemoration for the passion and service Tony brought to Zappos and the downtown community,” a Zappos spokesperson said in a statement. “We hope it brings some happiness to Tony’s friends and f amily to see his legacy honored.”
The wraps were created by the Las Vegas print and installation company, Screaming Images. Zappos said it has used the vendor frequently over the years and that the owner and founder, James Swanson, “proactively offered his services” and chose the image of Hsieh.
One of the wraps is 69 feet by 38.8 feet and the other, which f aces the freeway, is 64.25 feet by 36 feet, Zappos said.
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman has mentioned a long-term memorial to Hsieh is being considered for downtown, according to the Las Ve
gas Review Journal.
Soon after coming to Connecticut this f all, Hsieh died after being trapped in a New London house fire.
It was early morning on Nov. 18, 2020, when 911 callers reported a fire in a storage area connected to the house at 500 Pequot Ave. Callers said a person was trapped or “barricaded” inside, based on initial dispatch reports from that morning. That person was later identified as Hsieh, 46.
Hsieh was pulled unresponsive from the fire and rushed to nearby Lawrence + Memorial Hospital. From there, he was transferred to Bridgeport Hospital’s burn center
where he died on Nov. 27.
James Gill, the state’s chief medical examiner, ruled Hsieh’s death accidental from complications of smoke inhalation.
Local authorities said last month that investigators continue to examine evidence to piece together the hours leading up to the fire and what caused it.
New London Police Chief Peter Reichard said last month that investigators were still waiting for Hsieh’s toxicology reports, a part of the autopsy process that can take up to eight weeks to complete.
Reichard did not return a request for comment for an update on the investigation this week.