Veteran Norwalk firefighter dies of cancer at age 52
NORWALK — Craig Saris, a veteran of more than 25 years with the Norwalk Fire Department who was once commended for diving into the Norwalk River to rescue people trapped in a car, has died following a four-year battle with cancer, officials said Wednesday.
Saris, 52, died Monday. His death was listed as an Occupational Line of Duty Death by the International Association of Firefighters. The local chapter of the firefighter’s union first announced his death Tuesday on Facebook.
“He was just a good guy — he’s the guy you would want getting off the engine if you were the one calling 911,” said Norwalk Fire Capt. Adam Sussman, who worked closely with Saris for three years while they were stationed together on Meadow Street.
Saris could bust chops with the best of them around the firehouse, Sussman recalled, but he was “also someone who was capable of being very sensitive and supportive when someone was in need,” he said.
“He had both sides of that coin,” he added.
In a statement, Mayor Harry Rilling described Saris as a “hero” and “one of the most dedicated firefighters the city has ever had.”
“He loved his job and his fellow firefighters,” Rilling said. “He worked in every Norwalk fire station during the course of his career and served for as long as his health allowed because of his fierce commitment to the safety and well-being of Norwalk residents.”
Saris grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and lived for a time in Rockland County before moving to Redding, Sussman said. Both of Saris’ parents died before he reached adulthood, leaving him on his own to build a life for himself.
“He just had taught himself to navigate the world one problem at a time,” Sussman said. “I think that speaks a lot to his character as well. He came from that and ended up in a career where the focus of the career is on helping other people.”
Saris joined the Norwalk Fire Department on Dec. 4, 1997.
“One of the greatest compliments you can pay anyone in this job is to say you can depend on them in a fire,” Assistant Fire Chief Edward McCabe said. “And that was Craig.”
Saris received two department commendations throughout his career, Rilling’s office said. The first was from an incident in December 2005, when Saris and a group of other firefighters “dove into the
Norwalk River to attempt to rescue victims trapped in a vehicle,” Rilling said in his statement.
The second commendation came from an episode in November 2011, when Saris was among another group of firefighters who rescued a man found unconscious from carbon monoxide poisoning in his home.
“Firefighter Saris helped locate the victim in the basement of his house and carried him out to safety, ultimately saving his life,” Rilling said.
Peter Brown, president of the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut, said he started at the Norwalk Fire Department on the same day as Saris.
“Over the years, we became close friends,” Brown said in an email. “My heart breaks for the tremendous loss his wife and children are experiencing, but I hope they know they will always be part of our firefighter family.”
“He was an excellent fireman,” Sussman said. “No fear, physically very strong and aggressive, which in firefighting is a compliment.”
“He wasn’t the guy lollygagging hoping someone would get in there first,” he added. “If there was something to be done on the scene, he would do it.”
Saris was diagnosed with cancer four years ago, Michelle Woods Matthew, a city spokesperson said. He continued to work for the department while he was treated, Sussman said. When Saris went into hospice care, members of the fire union stayed with him until he died, Sussman said.