SOUTHWICK-Stephen Fedus Jr. has a sparkle in his eyes when he talks about life, family, and his time working with the West Hartford Police Department.
Now at 95, he still dreams big despite his oncologist giving him a poor prognosis for the aggressive cancer that has attacked his esophagus due to long-term gastroesophageal reflux disease.
“My dad was not a smoker but he has dealt with heartburn and GERD for many years,” said Henry Fedus, D.P.M. “With his declining health and now on hospice, I had sent an email to the West Hartford Police Department and said it would be nice if someone could stop by and say hello. I could not have imagined everything they would do to recognize him.”
West Hartford Police Officer Stephen Fedus, Jr. in 1948. (Photo courtesy of the West Hartford Police Department).
On his job application for the West Hartford Police Department dated Dec. 13, 1947, Fedus noted “I would like to make this my life’s work.”
On a recent afternoon, Fedus was greeted by West Hartford police officers who had a special gift for him – the department’s prestigious Police Cross – awarded to a “sworn officer who in the intelligent performance of his/her duty is seriously injured.” Presenting the award were Police Chief Tracey Gove, and Assistant Chiefs Robert McCue and Daniel Coppinger.
“The Police Cross became an award after Det. Paul Melanson was accidentally shot and suffered a significant injury while conducting a SWAT raid in October of 1995,” said McCue. “The award was developed as a result of that injury to recognize members of the department that suffered a dramatic injury in the line of duty. It is one of the highest awards an officer can receive. From the records we have, Officer Fedus is only the second officer to have received this award.”
On April 13, 1948, Fedus, then 27, found his life turned upside down after he was struck broadside by a vehicle that had been stolen earlier in the day by two 17-year-old soldiers who were AWOL from Fort Dix, N.J. The soldiers had lost control of the vehicle in the vicinity of an elementary school where Fedus was helping children cross the street. That split second incident led to Fedus’ left leg being amputated and forcing him to take a disability separation months later.
A police department proclamation given to Fedus during the recent visit noted the two occupants of the car, who were uninjured, fled from the scene as Fedus lay injured in the street. The proclamation also states that residents quickly came to the aid of Fedus and a manhunt began for the two men. The two were captured a short time later hiding in a local park. According to a Hartford Courant article dated June 2, 1948, the youths were sentenced to the State Reformatory.
“It felt very bad to leave the police force,” said Fedus, adding, “I was depressed after my injury. My healing began after I forgave the soldiers and moved on.”
Southwick resident Stephen Fedus, Jr., now at 95, holds a photograph from his days walking the beat with the West Hartford Police Department. He recently received the department’s Police Cross which he is wearing next to his badge from 1948.
The police department and community rallied around Fedus to help him as he recovered from his injuries.
“The department raised more than $4,000 on his behalf – a significant sum in 1948,” said Gove.
With that money, Fedus purchased 32 acres in East Granby, Conn., which eventually became his family’s home base. Fedus had been a “snow bird” for many years and moved to Southwick two years ago.
“It was uplifting to hear what an impact the job of being a police officer – even for a very brief period of time – had on Officer Fedus and his family,” said Gove. “Although he retired in 1948, and held several other non-police jobs, including one with the state for 30 years, he still exudes tremendous pride and happiness when he talks about his time with the West Hartford Police Department.”
Gove added that the visit served as a reminder “that we are all connected to the officers of the past and what a wonderful tradition of policing we have here in West Hartford.”
McCue echoed those sentiments.
“It felt rewarding to give Officer Fedus the Police Cross,” said McCue. “My grandfather was a detective with the department at the time of the accident. My grandfather passed when I was very small, so it was very nice to spend some time with Stephen who had worked with him back so long ago.”
Fedus added he was “overwhelmed” by the officers’ visit and enjoyed sharing his stories of “walking the beat” with them.
While some may have thought their life was over with such a tragic accident, Fedus knew he still had a lot of living to do.
Stephen Fedus, Jr., center, is seen with his sons, Henry and Stephen 3rd, in front of the soon-to-be-opened Blue Boy Ice Cream on College Highway in Southwick. Fedus recently received the prestigious “Police Cross” from the West Hartford Police Department for his demonstrated sacrifice and bravery during an incident in 1948.
Fedus lit up when he shared one of his happiest moments – meeting his future bride Marian.
“What I loved most about Marian was her smile,” he said, noting they met quite by accident.
“I had planned to talk to another woman only a foot away from Marian but a gentleman came by and asked the woman to dance,” he said. “I loved to dance but with my amputation I had lost my confidence to try again. So instead Marian and I talked and then went out on a couple of dates. Five years passed, I called her one day and asked her out for dinner, and we were married three months later.”
Their love story included three children who were the apple of their eyes.
In 1970, Marian was diagnosed with a blood clot due to taking an oral contraceptive, and passed away suddenly, leaving Fedus to raise their young children, Henry, 5, Stephen 3rd, 11, and Mary, 12.
“Marian had told me to be sure our children get a good education and I promised her I would,” said Fedus, noting both Mary and Stephen are optometrists and Henry is a podiatrist.
“Dad has always been an inspiration and we copy the path he followed,” said Henry Fedus.
Mary Fedus, O.D., concurred.
Stephen Fedus Jr. of Southwick holds the Police Cross he recently received from the West Hartford Police Department.
“Dad has always been a steady eddy,” she said, adding, “Dad was always around when you needed him.”
While all of the siblings were young when their mom passed, their memories of her remain vivid.
“My most fond memory was watching Mom make everything from scratch,” said Stephen Fedus, O.D. “She was a good cook.”
For Mary Fedus, her mom’s infectious laughter was what she misses the most.
“She really knew how to laugh and had a wonderful sense of humor,” she said.
For Henry Fedus, despite his young age, he loved the time spent with his mom learning arithmetic while his siblings were in school.
As the years ticked away, Fedus retired in 1980 from Connecticut’s Labor Department and soon opened a small coffee shop in the same building. After four years he sold the business and concentrated on other projects, including farming on his land and selling produce to local restaurants and nursing homes, and buying and selling real estate.
“To this day Dad always seems to have a project going on,” said Mary Fedus.
While Stephen Fedus gets tired more easily these days, his mind is sharp and he continues to plot his next big project. By mid-July, he and his family expect to open Blue Boy Ice Cream at 671 College Highway on the former home of the Blue Boy Candle Co.
“We’ll start slow with ice cream and sandwiches at first,” said Fedus. “I look forward to greeting everyone since I’m feeling very good right now.”
