A city firefighter who suffered a brain injury during a fall at a firehouse passed away Tuesday.
Patrick Joseph Reardon (pictured), 42, was pronounced dead shortly before 6 pm. at the Hospital of St. Raphael, where he had been in treatment for about 10 days.
Friends and family gathered at Rudy’s bar Tuesday evening in his honor, setting aside a bar stool and a pyramid of shot glasses for their beloved regular.
Reardon, a 14-year veteran of the firefighting force, is the nephew of former Fire Chief John Reardon and the son of a retired fire captain. He reportedly had a seizure and fell down at the Goffe Street firehouse on April 11. The incident was a medical episode not related to an emergency call, said Fire Chief Michael Grant. His death is being considered a “line-of-duty” death, Grant said.
“We are mourning the loss of one of New Haven’s bravest,” said Mayor John DeStefano in a statement. “Pat’s death is a tragedy; our prayers and thoughts are with his family. Our focus now is to rightfully honor his service and his family who have a great tradition within the New Haven Fire Department.”
To sign a guestbook for the family, visit this site.