AVON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES ANNUAL AWARDS
Department Members Honored at Recent Annual Dinner
December 15, 2025 | Avon, Conn. — At its recent annual dinner, the Avon Volunteer Fire Department honored several members for their length of service and presented some special awards. Chief Bruce Appell announces the following recognitions.
AVFD Community Partnership Award
The Hometown Foundation, Inc.
Company Station Award
Co. 1: Jacob Jones
Co. 3: Alexa Schuck
Co. 4: Marcin Rupar & Richard Schiffres (tie)
Fire Police: Sidney Shafran
Headquarters Administration: Kristen Shaw
Chief’s Appreciation Award
Assistant Chief Joseph Speich
Most Training Hours Award FY24-25 Interior Firefighter
Phillip Kholond – 337
Benjamin Shapiro – 312
Most Training Hours Award FY24-25 Support Firefighter
Donald Mark Wilson – 242
Deputy Chief David Theriault – 149
Most Training Hours Award FY24-25 Fire Police
Captain Peter Tedone – 104
Steven Gottlieb – 71
Most Calls Award FY24-25 Interior Firefighter
Victoria Haskins – 203 and 29%
Lieutenant Michael Galliher – 191 and 27%
Most Calls Award FY24-25 Support Firefighter
Nicholas Mathein – 405 and 58%
Peter Delap – 379 and 54%
Most Calls Award FY24-25 Fire Police
Sidney Shafran – 293 and 42%
Joseph Person – 224 and 32%
Unsung Hero
Jay McCaffrey
Explorer of the Year Award
lmaya Prabhu
Members’ Choice Award
Benjamin Shapiro
Unit Citation Award: Recruitment and Retention Committee Members
Christina Adajian
Jennifer Rosado
Benjamin Shapiro
Laura Ward
Company Award – Company 4
Captain Adriane Wright
Lieutenant Ryan Wilson
Christina Adajian
Jeffrey Bernetich
Rylee Bernetich
Jeffrey Borges
Michael Hornish
Garrett Long
Ariel Mazara
Jason Mickus
Patrick Olmstead
Marcin Rupar
Richard Schiffres
Mattew Seymour
Benjamin Shapiro
Thomas Waldeck
Outstanding Service Award
Marcin Rupar
Length of Service Awards (awarded every five years)
30 Years
Kristen Shaw
25 Years
Carol Baldwin
Steve Gottlieb
20 Years
Alicia Hornish
Jack McGuire
Lynn Sedlak
15 Years
Adam Corrado
Raymond Crozier
Jay McCaffrey
10 Years
Thomas Waldeck
5 Years
Melinda St. Onge
Joseph Farzinzad
Service Stripes (one stripe awarded for every four years of service)
52 Years
Jamie DiPace
36 Years
Dave Bourgoin
28 Years
Joe Speich
24 Years
Tom Post
Diane Theriault
20 Years
Jack McGuire
Lynn Sedlak
12 Years
Phyllis Wilson
8 Years
James DeVanney
4 Years
Peter Tedone
Ryan Wilson
Matthew Seymour
Alexa Shuck
Abigail Fernald
About the AVFD
Incorporated in 1943, the Avon Volunteer Fire Department proudly protects nearly 20,000 people living in the 23 square mile area that makes up the Town of Avon. The Department’s mission is to provide fire suppression and prevention, life safety and rescue support, as well as other community support to the citizens of the Town of Avon. In addition, the Department provides mutual aid support to those surrounding communities that, in time of need, may request such assistance.
Staffed entirely by volunteers, the Avon Volunteer Fire Department prides itself on the selflessness and dedication of its members. The Department operates six companies and 15 pieces of apparatus, including a brush truck, ladder truck, tanker, rescue vehicle, boat, and pumpers. Four stations are located throughout Town – Company 1 on Darling Drive, Company 2 on Secret Lake Road, Company 3 on West Avon Road, and Company 4 on Huckleberry Hill Road. Anyone interested in learning more about the AVFD should call the Avon Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD) at 677-2644, visit www.AvonVFD.org, connect on Facebook and Instagram at AvonVFD, or stop by the Company 1 firehouse located at 25 Darling Drive any Monday evening after 7:00.
