GREENWICH — Daniel Warzoha, the town’s emergency management director, spent Friday and Saturday working and monitoring Tropical Storm Henri. He died unexpectedly Saturday night, First Selectman Fred Camillo told Greenwich Time Sunday.

Warzoha, who was previously Greenwich’s fire chief and a longtime volunteer firefighter, “had a lifelong love for his hometown, steadfast dedication to public safety, and immense pride as a son of Glenville,” Camillo said in a statement.

“His legacy will also include his central role during one of the most challenging times of the modern era,” Camillo added. “Dan’s daily presence, reassuring demeanor, vast institutional knowledge, a strong network of contacts at the state level, and affable nature was a comfort to all of us who worked with him at the Town’s Emergency Operations Center.”

Warzoha spoke with Greenwich Time on Friday as the town was preparing for the tropical storm, saying he had been in meetings that day with local, state, and regional officials.

Warzoha said that storm preparation was “an all-hands-on-deck” effort, with police, fire, emergency medical services, public works, parks and recreation and land use employees all involved. He said he was hoping for the best but preparing for the worst, and he urged residents to heed the town’s emergency messages.

“This could be the biggest storm event that we’ve seen since Superstorm Sandy” and possibly 1991’s Hurricane Bob, Warzoha said Saturday morning.

The town’s current fire chief, Joseph McHugh, said Warzoha was a “big part of the growth” of the fire department.

“The whole department is just going to miss him,” McHugh said, adding that Warzoha was a good friend and that his death came as a shock. He said he was in touch with Warzoha on Saturday as Henri neared.

The Glenville Volunteer Fire Company posted a statement to its Facebook page Sunday afternoon saying that Warzoha would “be remembered for all of his many notable, and dedicated services to the Town of Greenwich.”

“Our Memorial Plaque has been placed on the front outside wall of the firehouse, and the American Flag has been placed at half-staff, in Dan’s memory,” the post said. “Dan’s selfless contributions and services to our Town will be graciously remembered for many years to come. His loss to our community, and all that he provided, is significant.”

Peter Tesei, Camillo’s predecessor, said Warzoha was “extremely diligent” in terms of preparing for events and disseminating information. He also had an “intricate knowledge of the town's infrastructure” thanks to his experience working in the Department of Public Works.

“He was uniquely tailored to address concerns and safety for people but also for the protection of community assets and tying that to the safety of the people,” Tesei said. “And so he really is irreplaceable in regard to the role that he played in emergency services as the director for preparedness.”

“He cared deeply about protecting people, and he was very passionate and conscientious about it,” Tesei added. “His passing will be a loss for not only his family, which is tragic but for the town at large because he truly cared about making sure people were safe.” https://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Dan-Warzoha-Greenwich-emergency-management-16404058.php

brianna.gurciullo@hearstmediact.com