Warzoha Remembered for Lifelong Dedication

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On August 22, 2021, as Tropical Storm Henri approached, we received word from First Selectman Fred Camillo of the passing of Greenwich Emergency Management Operations Director, Daniel Stephen Warzoha.

The Town of Greenwich lost a local hero that day. Although he would never refer to himself as a hero. According to his son, also Dan, his favorite movie was Backdraft and one of his favorite quotes from it was, “It’s not about being a hero, you know, I just, I do what I do because that’s my way.”

Walking with his son Daniel at the Glenville Memorial Day parade.

Dedicated to the Town

Warzoha was clear about this: he loved the Town of Greenwich and he demonstrated that love every time he answered an emergency call and rushed out the door to help, and often save his fellow Greenwich residents.

Warzoha was just 68 when he died of a heart attack unexpectedly after spending a week’s vacation with his family followed up preparing for Tropical Storm Henri. Respected for his professionalism, understanding of the town, and his outstanding preparations ahead of major weather events, Warzoha was in his element prior to the arrival of Henri according to his son, Stephen. “He was prepared and ready, advising the First Selectman and department heads. Making sure every contingency was covered.”

Warzoha was born on the very last day of 1952 to Claire (Gawroniak) and the late Stephen T. Warzoha. He grew up in the Glenville section of Greenwich, where he began volunteering with the Glenville Fire Company at the age of 16, rising to district chief.

In 1973 he started with the Department of Public Works and once again rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the operations manager at the town sewage plant. He served as the chief of the Greenwich Fire Department from 1999 to 2004 when he was appointed coordinator of emergency management by Jim Lash, quickly becoming the director of Emergency Management.

Warzoha served as one of five original founders as well as a long-time board member of the Greenwich Emergency Medical Service (GEMS), widely thought of as one of the best ambulance companies in the country.

“Dan Warzoha was one of the founding members of GEMS and a longtime supporter and advocate,” according to GEMS board member Dan FitzPatrick. “He was part of the Town’s EMS Advisory Board which evaluated Greenwich’s emergency medical needs and capabilities and led to the creation of GEMS in 1986 as an independent charity providing services to the Town under contract. In doing so, he worked closely with Charlee Tufts, who became GEMS’ first Executive Director. He will be sorely missed.”

The former fire chief was an ardent Yankees fan, active in the Boy Scouts, and he cooked pregame meals for the Greenwich High School football team when his son, Dan, was a player. He was also active with the Polish Club and Greenwich High School Rugby.

Long serving state Representative Livvy Floren said, “Dan Warzoha’s untimely death has left a huge hole in the collective heart and soul of our community. Dan was a consistent, compassionate, and caring contributor to Greenwich public safety education, volunteer philanthropy, and political life in Greenwich. He will be truly missed.”

Dan at his son Daniel’s wedding in Dayton Ohio on July 26 2014; his mother Claire Warzoha, Dan, daughter-in-law Kathryn (Bunner) Warzoha, sons Daniel and Stephen, his wife Diane, and his father-in-law Al DiSapio.

Dedicated to His Family

In the eulogy for his father, his son, Dan, said Warzoha’s dedication to the town was only matched by his dedication to his family. “If you needed something, he was there, if you needed a favor, he was there, if you needed to know a guy who knows a guy, he knew that guy,” Dan explained. “My dad never ever missed a single game that either me or my brother played. Baseball, basketball, football, hockey, or rugby. None missed, ever. Hundreds of games. He was always there at our scouting events, band concerts, and everything else we did. He didn’t miss a thing. He made the time, all the time. He even called his mother twice a day, who else does that?”

Warzoha’s wife of 42 years, Diane, said in her eulogy that she shared her husband with the town and fire department. “Did you know that firefighters have their own time schedule,” she asked. They “travel as a pack and think nothing of leaving wherever when the alarm goes off? This was all new to me, but that is how Danny came…

Serving Under Three First Selectmen

Dave Theis and Dan pause their conversation for a quick photo.

Warzoha served under three First Selectmen as Emergency Management Director.

The first was Jim Lash, who originally hired Warzoha for the position of Emergency Management Coordinator, which was then changed to Emergency Management Director. He says that hiring correctly for this position was critical. “I was elected in 2003 and had served about a week when we had a snowstorm and a major fire on the same night,” he explained saying that there were a lot of moving pieces to coordinate. At the same time, new public safety policy was being solidified at the federal and state level having to do with evacuating New York City and using the train lines, putting Greenwich and Stamford at the center of those conversations. “We needed to have someone ‘in the game’ to represent Greenwich in those discussions.”

“We picked him,” said Lash, “because he had a broad understanding of how the most basic and the most important services functioned. He also had developed personal relationships over decades at state and regional meetings. He was taken seriously from day one. It was not a hard choice; it was an easy choice. He was not the kind of guy who was all about himself, he was the kind of guy to bring others together.”

Peter Tesei, who served with Warzoha the longest as First Selectman said, “Dan was uniquely qualified for this position because he knew the Town infrastructure and its residents and was respected by all branches of the emergency services, Town departments, and the public.”

Tesei also noted that, “he had many relationships at the regional and state level that proved valuable for Greenwich when we needed access to information or resources.”

Tesei went on to say, “I was fortunate to have Dan by my side during my twelve-year tenure as he had the ability to anticipate situations and make sure we were prepared for any event and that residents were protected. He truly cared about keeping people safe.”

Tesei recalled that he and Warzoha worked well together preparing the town for disasters by making certain the Emergency Operations Center was established at the public safety complex, moving it from the Town Hall meeting room; and securing generators for designated emergency shelters.

“Dan brought decades of experience, integrity, and respect which are essential in such a sensitive role as this one,” Tesei explained. “Dan was not just a colleague, but dear friend and his loss has left a void for his family and the Greenwich Community at large.”

First Selectman Fred Camillo, who has served most recently with Warzoha said, “Over the past eighteen months, his steady hand at the helm in the Emergency Operations Center was a comfort to all,” and that “Dan will be missed, and his legacy will last as long as those who call Greenwich home remain as residents of one of the safest towns in America.”

A Humble Hero Keeping Watch

Stephen Warzoha, known for his own volunteer efforts and civic work in town, said, “Family to him didn’t mean just us. It was so much bigger than that.” He went on to say, “With all he did he was so humble. He was the last person to tell you he was a big deal because to him, he was simply doing what he loved and what he knew was important.”

And yet, in the end, Warzoha will be remembered by the Town of Greenwich as a hero in many ways. Stephen joked in his eulogy that Peter Tesei coined a nickname for his father. Danger Dan: a superhero who was always there to protect the town when it was in danger.

It is easy to see why Warzoha’s wife, Diane, ended her eulogy by saying, “It is hard to believe, that after 42 years of marriage, I stand here, looking at all the people who are here…. paying tribute to a truly fine, kind, hardworking and passionate man. You are the ones that I shared him with….and although sometimes that was very difficult, I was proud to do so. If I put pieces of all of you together, I see and feel Danny as he truly was.”

 

The public was invited to make donations in his memory to the Glenville Volunteer Fire Company, 266 Glenville Road, 06831; or to GEMS, 1111 E. Putnam Ave., 06878, both fitting tributes.

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