At Plainville High School’s Tinty Stadium, Connecticut firefighters, state officials and Plainville community members created a sea of stars with their cellphone flashlights. They listened to a community member sing “Amazing Grace” in honor of a fallen Plainville Firefighter.
Raymond “Ray” Moreau died after a piece of fire truck broke and struck him on Sunday. He served with the Plainville Fire Company for more than 35 years.
The vigil on Tuesday evening marked a chance for the community to remember Moreau as a brother and a mentor to many.
“No matter what was going on, Ray knew just what to say, just lift us up,” said Fire Captain John Myska, who worked with Moreau since he started on the job 23 years ago. “When he said something… it was powerful, really.”
Foster White, Vice President of the Plainville Board of Education and Moreau’s neighbor, said it was important to see so many people in the town come together.
“Ray has been, and always was, a great giver and contributed to his community and a great, great, great citizen. And that's the type of person that, really, we lose. It's a tremendous loss,” White said. “He served initially in the Marine Corps after high school, and has just been one of those people who really is supportive of the town and the people who live in it. And you could best describe him as a really good neighbor.”
Like family to many
Moreau’s best friend, William “Bill” Gammon, has been with the Plainville Fire Company for 40 years. He said Ray and the Moreau family are his adopted family.
“Ray was great with kids. He would show them stuff, and he would bring the kid out in him,” Gammon said. “I mean, these, a lot of, a lot of, a lot of people will miss what he had, what he has to offer for the rest of his life.”
Plainville Fire Chief Thomas Moschini remembered he could always find Moreau playing with the kids at fundraiser events.
“People call him ‘Uncle Ray.’ My grandkids, my kids, they love Ray, and Ray loved them,” Moschini said. “His wife is a great person, and together, they're fun, a lot of fun outside the firehouse. Make you laugh, but he's going to be truly missed.”
Moschini said he would continue to invite Ray’s wife, Christine, to future fundraisers. The company had fire fighter boots on display at the vigil, so community members could donate to causes Moreau cared about most and leave notes or prayers for the family.
“He cared about everybody. We're in the business. We're helping people and caring about people we don't know. But yep, he follows up, ‘Hey, how's that person? How's that person in the accident the other day?’” Moschini said. “He cares right through and through, you know, and it’s heartbreaking.”
“Ray, my brother,” Moschini said with a shaky voice, “rest in peace. I love you, and we'll take it from here.”
Details unfold as investigations continue
Moreau was among those who responded to a house fire shortly before 6:30 a.m. Sunday. He was standing outside the house near the fire truck when a piece of the vehicle broke off and struck him, state police said.
Moreau suffered severe leg injuries while at the scene and later died during surgery at a hospital.
The chief medical examiner's office said Monday that Moreau died from blunt force trauma to his head, neck, torso and extremities, and ruled his death an accident.
State police are investigating the accident in collaboration with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the local prosecutor's office.
Learn more
Friends and family will be gathering at Plainville Funeral Home for a wake on Friday from 3 to 7 p.m.
A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday morning at Welte Hall at Central Connecticut State University.
This story will be updated. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
