We have some sad news to share with you. There has been another work related death of a public works employee. Thursday, shortly before noon David Rizdon, age 50, of Willington, CT working for the Tolland, CT DPW was killed while performing road repair work.
The New England Chapter of APWA’s Executive Board is working to organize a tribute for the family and co-workers to the fallen comrade at the funeral similar to the tribute for the Natick, MA DPW worker last year where over 400 public works, water works and wastewater professionals dressed in their safety yellow protective clothing assembled to pay tribute to our fallen comrade.
We are asking all of you to do what you can to show our support to the family and his co-workers and attend the tribute this coming Wednesday 3/25/15. We would like to have one large piece of equipment from each organization participate in the funeral procession and all others are asked to line the street in your safety yellow jackets to honor the funeral procession as it arrives and leaves the church. This is our opportunity to let the family know and the public know how much we as a community support our fellow employees.
This is an opportunity for our DPW “family” to step up and support the Rizdon family, the Tolland DPW workers and the Town of Tolland CT. Please ask your Town Manager/First Selectman to allow you and your employees to attend at the funeral. Please see attached for more information on the tribute.
*In order to keep an accurate count of the participants, please e-mail Tim Webb twebb@ellington-ct.gov and Thomas Roy troy@simsbury-ct.gov with the number of participants from your town.
David Ridzon Funeral Service
Public Works – Show of Solidarity
Summary:
David Ridzon a long time Tolland Public Works employee was killed on Thursday 3/19/15 while preforming roadway maintenance work. In recognition of his service to his community and to the Public Works profession, all Towns are being asked to send at least one representative to the funeral service on Wednesday 3/25/15 at 10:00 am at the United Congregational Church located at the intersection of Routes 74 and 195 in Tolland, CT.
Funeral Procession (one large truck per community):
Each Town participating is asked to provide one large truck to participate in the funeral procession. Trucks should meet at Saint Matthews Church, 111 Tolland Green, no later than 9:15 am. Please have the trucks clean and presentable (parade ready). Detailed instructions will be given at St. Matthews Church.
Honor Guard:
We would like to line the streets on both sides of the road at the Town Green to honor the funeral procession and to show support to the family, Tolland DPW employees and the community. We will line the roadway, along both sides of the Town Green beginning at the Tolland Congregation Church. Please drop off crew members and then park on side streets. We should all be dressed in our safety yellow jackets and dark blue pants (please, no jeans). As you fill in the line along both sides of the road, be prepared to stand side by side and avoid “clumping” into groups during the procession. Stand tall with your hands at your sides or behind your back – please, no coffee cups or cigarettes in your hands as the procession passes as we are here to show our respect to the family and our fallen brother.
Funeral:
Once the funeral procession has passed, please follow the procession to the church. We will fit as many as possible into the church and the rest of us will wait outside during the service. Please be respectful and keep voices down – as we will be a large group, it is very easy for us to become a distraction to the services inside the church. As the services conclude, line up on either side of the exit as a final sign of respect to David Ridzon and his family. The family will be the last to exit the church and as they do the procession of DPW units will pass by the church. Facilities will be limited. There are a few restaurants (Dunkin’ Donuts and Subway) and the town library, so please plan accordingly. Additionally, we are not recommending any attendance at any events the family may be holding following the funeral service. Our goal is to support the family and not to burden them with feeding several hundred public works employees.
If there is anyone wishing to make a donation the following should be noted on the donation:
David L. Ridzon Memorial Fund
United Bank
c/o Paula Wilson
6 Fieldstone Commons
Tolland, CT 06084
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