Juel T. Kroyer Jr.

JUEL T. KROYER, JR. former (lifetime) Greenwich resident (third generation resident) and retired Greenwich (paid) fireman born 27 March 1935 in Norwalk, son of Juel T. Kroyer, Sr., (second generation resident) and Rebecca Harvey Kroyer. Survivors include his siblings, Kermit M. Kroyer, Reno, Nev.; Dr. Gale E. Kroyer-Vrtiak, Richmond, Va.; husband of Denise Townsend Kroyer, wife of 51 years, married in Sacred Heart Church, Byram on 11 April 1959; children, Steven Kroyer and his wife, Elizabeth of Orlando, Fla., Deborah S. Siconolfi and her husband, Adam of Mystic; grandchild, Ava Nicole Siconolfi age 8 of Mystic; four nieces and one nephew; five grandnephews and one grandniece (Nevada and South Dakota); and mother-in-law, Mary Townsend of Greenwich. He attended Greenwich elementary schools and graduated from Greenwich High School in 1953. He was employed first Federal Bank of Greenwich from 1954 to 56; Homelite-Greenwich 1956 to 1964. He co-owned and operated a Shell Gas Station of West Putnam Avenue and Shell Station in Byram, Greenwich Fire Department (paid) in the timeframe of 1969 to 1992 and retired in 1992 after 23 years. While serving with the Greenwich Fire Department he was elected to the Firemen's Board in 1980; Elected president of that Board in 1987-was President of that Board until 1990. In the Fall of 1988, he was instrumental in developing the fireman's Credit Union and in the Fall of 1988, he got permission from the National Credit Union in Albany, New York to establish a Credit Union for the firemen of Greenwich. He was instrumental in getting the ability and allowing for the Greenwich Firemen to own their own building on West Putnam Avenue (Credit Union). He negotiated with the Regional Director to purchase the land where the Credit Union now stands on West Putnam Avenue. He was on the Union Executive Board for many years; Vice-President of same board 6 years. He was directly involved in Contract Negotiations for 6 years. He was a Shop Steward. He was Paramount in the development and gaining of a Medical Insurance for Retirees, which the fire department says belongs to his Legacy (alone). In 1980, he represented the Greenwich Firemen (Retirees) in Palm Springs concerning the development of the retiree insurance plans. In 1984, he sat on the Board for the Procedural Book written for the department. He was a laision for the Paid Firemen. Known for his ability to negotiate, mediate, successfully understand "both sides of the fence" and he would simply "not back down" when he thought something was needed or appeared "not right." He is a Legacy according to the Fire Department for his innovations for improvement within the department and definitely known for the added benefits of today for the paid firemen of Greenwich. He was known for his ability to "take a joke" and reciprocate the same. In his later years, with the Department, he was in charge of the Dispatch Rook and never stopped his support or negotiations for the department. He died 17 June 2010 (suddenly) of an unknown nature while visiting family in Greenwich and Mystic and was buried Edgewater, Fla. on 17 July 2010 with an Episcopal service conducted by the Rev. Deke Miller of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Arrangements by Settle-Wilder Funeral Home of New Smyrna Beach, FL. Entombment was private with immediate family, a Firemen Contingent and friends at the All Faiths Mausoleum, Sea Pines Memorial Gardens, Edgewater, Fla.