Family, friends say final goodbye to 'Ski'

They all said similar things Friday. Battalion Chief Richard "Ski" Chrzanowski was a mentor. He was a professional. He was a friend. He was a family man.

But it wasn't what was said during the memorial service, or the sight of scores of fire trucks and people in the procession as it wound through east Carson City, that brought home the full impact of Chrzanowski's death from cancer on New Year's Eve.

At the end of the two-hour memorial, Carson City firefighters filed past the casket and laid a white carnation on top. And then they cried.

One by one, as they walked up the aisle to exit St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, the men who worked under and with Chrzanowski - who stood at attention during his funeral, who honored him with a ceremony fit for a king - gave up the fight and wept.

"He absolutely had as much or more integrity than any person I've ever met," said Fire Chief Stacey Giomi to the hundreds gathered in the chapel. "If he said he was going to do something, he did it."

Capt. Jim Quilici said he was proud to call Chrzanowski his friend.

"He encouraged me. He challenged me. He pushed me to be better than I was," he said.

On the morning his friend died, Quilici said, he awoke just after 5 a.m. and thought of Chrzanowski.

"I said a prayer for Ski like I always did. And I asked the Lord to not let him suffer any more and I also asked the Lord to surround his family with his angels and help them," he said, his voice choked with emotion. "Now when I say a prayer asking the Lord to surround me with his angels, I know Ski will be one of those angels."

Chrzanowski is survived by his wife of 33 years, June; children, Andrew, Sara and Jessica; mother Wanda Chrzanowski; sisters Barbara Baxter, Ronni Ahnlund and Felicia Herriage; 1-year-old granddaughter Addison and numerous nieces and nephews.

Firefighters from as far away as Sedona, Ariz., came to pay respects to the 36-year veteran of the fire service.

During the funeral, firefighters from Central Lyon County, Tahoe Douglas, Incline Village, East Fork Fire, and Nevada Division of Forestry took over service in the city so members of the Carson City Fire Department could attend.

Central Lyon County Fire Battalion Chief Bob Kielty explained to those gathered the "Last Alarm" ceremony.

"We utilize these traditions ... to symbolize the devotion that these brave souls had for their duty, a special signal of three rings, three times each, represents the end of our comrades' duties and that they will be returning to quarters," said Kielty. "Today we pay tribute to Battalion Chief Richard Chrzanowski with the ringing of the last alarm. We bring our brother Ski home for the last time." 

Then, as the bells' chimes faded, Kielty pulled out a dispatch radio and held it to the microphone.

The voice of Carson City Dispatcher Liz Hertz filled the chapel.

"This is Carson City Fire Department with a special alarm. It is with deep regret and sorrow we must announce that Battalion Chief Richard Chrzanowski has answered his last alarm on this date and has returned home," she said. "The fire chief and department members thank you for your service to our community and will never forget your honor, courage and duty. Godspeed, Ski."