WESTPORT — The Westport Uniformed Firefighters Association announced Monday memorial plans are underway for one of their own.
46-year-old firefighter, Turk Aksoy succumbed to cancer early Monday morning.
Aksoy was a 13-year veteran of the Westport Fire Department and worked as a paramedic for many years before joining the department.
The Westport Firefighters, Local 1081 and the Westport Fire Department will be memorializing Aksoy.
He was predeceased by his wife Denise in January of 2019 and leaves behind two children.
Residentss are asked to keep Aksoy’s children, family, friends and fellow firefighters in their thoughts in this difficult time.
A GoFundMe has been started in Aksoy’s memory and in support of his children.
Westport Fire officials say cancer in connection to the job has proven to be the new epidemic the fire service faces and, many members have been lost to the illness.
Aksoy was among the firefighters who fought for presumptive cancer legislation.
Below is a quote from him during his 2016 testimony to the CT House Labor Committee:
“And, you know, it’s not easy. Every morning you wake up and you got to put your feet on the floor because you have a family looking after you and hopefully, you know, I’ll go back to work tonight actually, and then tomorrow I’m back in New York City starting chemo again. You know, and that’ll wipe me out for three days until I have to go back to work again. You know, and it’s tough on my kids, it’s tough on my wife…”
The wake and memorial service for fallen Westport Firefighter Turk Aksoy are as follows:
Wake:
Saturday, November 30th, 2019
3-7PM
Harding Funeral Home
210 Post Road East
Westport, CT 06880
Uniform of the day for out of town Firefighters, Police and EMS will be Class A, white gloves, bell cap, and badge mourning band. Public Parking is available as well as parking at the Senior Center Parking lot (21 Imperial Avenue).
Memorial Service:
Sunday, December 1st, 2019
11AM
Saugatuck Elementary School
170 Riverside Avenue
Westport, CT 06880
Out of town Firefighters are asked to arrive at Railroad parking lot #1 or #8 (use Saugatuck Train Station 45 Railroad Place Westport, CT 06880 for GPS), no later than 10AM (shuttle will be available at 9AM). Out of town firefighters will be bused from the parking lot to the front of Saugatuck Elementary school and directed where to line up.
Uniform of the day will be Class A, white gloves, bell cap, and badge with mourning band.
No out of town fire apparatus or color guards needed.
General Public Parking for the Funeral will be at Saugatuck Elementary School, 170 Riverside Avenue, Westport. Overflow parking will be at Kings Highway Elementary School, 125 Post Road West, Westport.
A collation will follow the service at the Westport VFW, 465 Riverside Avenue, Westport.
