CHRZANOWSKI, Richard (Ski), Jr.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ Wednesday, January 13, 2010, page A-7 Richard "Ski" Chrzanowski Jr. passed from this world on Dec. 31. He was born Aug. 17, 1952 in Queens, N.Y., to Richard and Wanda Chrzanowski and was their only son. Richard was raised in Wickenburg, Ariz., and graduated from Wickenburg High School in 1970. Richard began his firefighting career in Wickenburg as a volunteer. From 1974 until 1981, Richard worked for the Glendale Fire Department in Glendale, Ariz. Richard met his wife June at Glendale Samaritan Hospital where she was employed. Richard and June were married July 24, 1976 and had their first child, Andrew Chrzanowski, in 1979. In 1981, Richard and June moved from Glendale to Flagstaff, Ariz., where Richard worked as a firefighter/paramedic. In 1983, they moved to Sedona, Ariz., where Richard worked as a paramedic/firefighter for Sedona Fire Department until 1991. While in Sedona, Richard and June had two more children - Sara and Jessica Chrzanowski. In 1991, Richard accepted a job offer from Ukiah Fire Department and took the deputy chief position. He held this position until 1993. In 1993, Richard and his family moved to Carson City, Nev., where he accepted a job as battalion chief for Carson City Fire Department - a position he still held at the time of his death. Richard was awarded an Associate of Arts of Fire Science from Yavapai Community College and earned his Executive Officer Certificate from the National Fire Academy. First and foremost, Richard was a family man and enjoyed barbecuing and camping with his family. He was a proud grandfather to his only grandchild Addison Chrzanowski, who called Richard her "Pop Pop." Richard enjoyed working home improvement projects around the house and taught his son all he knew. In 2005, Richard stood and proudly watched his son Andrew become a firefighter/paramedic for East Fork Fire Department. In 2006 he proudly watched his youngest daughter Jessica become a Carson City Dispatcher, and in December 2008 he walked his eldest daughter Sara down the aisle at her wedding. Richard bragged of his nephew Christopher Ahnlund, a "hotshot" firefighter for the Bureau of Land Management. Richard enjoyed attending classic car shows and owned a 1939 Chevrolet sedan and a 1948 Chevrolet truck that he fully restored himself. He enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle and completed the Laughlin Run with friends in 2009. Richard was proud to serve the community of Carson City and served in any capacity he could, such as serving as the coordinator of the "Every 15 Minutes" program at Carson High School, aimed at preventing underage drinking. Richard was an amazing, one-of-a-kind man who will be missed. Richard is survived by his wife, three children, mother Wanda Chrzanowski, and sisters Barbara Baxter, Ronnie Ahnlund, and Felicia Herriage, along with numerous nieces and nephews, and one granddaughter. Richard is preceded in death by his father Richard Chrzanowski Sr., who passed from this world in December 2008. A Memorial Mass for Richard will be held Friday (Jan. 15) at 2 p.m. at St. Anthony's Church in Wickenburg.