Christopher Tracy

Chris Tracy, an actorturned-firefighter who was instrumental in establishing the Fairfield Regional Fire School, died Sunday.

Tracy, of Guilford, retired in 2017 as Fairfield’s assistant fire chief after 26 years of service, but he remained active in both fire service and acting, as well as multiple charitable causes, such as a 2018 staging of the play, “The Guys,” to benefit California firefighters who lost their homes while fighting the Camp Fire, that state’s most devastating wildfire.

That attention to helping people defined Tracy’s life. He also had an active social media life, and when word of his death reached Facebook, one man responded, “I’m so sad right now.…a telling impact you had on me… and we never met.”

Prior to his work in fire service, Tracy played EMT and medical student Dick Franzman on the ABC soap opera, “All My Children.”

Born Feb. 24, 1960, in Manchester, CT, Tracy was one of five children of a professor of fine arts. He was introduced to acting as a child, when he began studying violin and guitar. Tracy studied pre-law and theater at Penn State University, where he participated in collegiate productions. Upon graduation, Tracy moved to New York City, acquired an agent, and earned a recurring role on “All My Children,” which lasted from 1982 to 2009. He married Gina Russell (Tracy), actor and playwright, in 1983.

Tracy appeared in other soaps, and in several nighttime pilots. He also acted extensively in regional theater, and served as theater director for Theater for the New City; producer and host at Valley Shore Community Television, and producing director at Connecticut Playwrights Theatre.

In addition to serving as assistant fire chief, Tracy was also Fairfield’s training/ safety/deputy fire marshal.

Tracy is survived by his wife, his son, Michael, beloved family members, and many, many friends.

A Celebration of Chris’s life will be held Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 651 Pequot Avenue, Southport. Friends may greet the family Tuesday from 3-8 p.m. in the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield.

Friends have established a GoFundMe page to help defray funeral costs. The link can be found on www. SpearFuneralHome.com