By Frank Juliano
Connecticut Post
STRATFORD, Conn. — A town firefighter who was also the freshman boys basketball coach at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull died suddenly at home on Monday, as firefighters and medics worked to save him.
Jason “Jay’’ Carrafiello, 38, “was an outstanding firefighter and was held in high regard by all of the officers and firefighters,’’ Chief Robert McGrath said.
He was also a state-licensed emergency medical technician who worked with the Stratford EMS, friends said.
“We got called to his home on a call of respiratory distress at 12:40 p.m.,’’ a still-shaken Fire Marshall Brian Lampart said Tuesday. “He was a big, strong guy, an ox, and he had a wife and two kids.’’
The St. Joseph High boys varsity and JV teams were scheduled to play Bassick High School in Bridgeport, but school officials said Tuesday morning that the contests have been postponed “in light of the tragic, sudden passing’’ of Carrafiello, school officials said.
“Our hearts go out to the Carrafiello family and prayers are offered especially for his wife Jessica, son Brian and daughter Kaitlyn,’’ said a message on the school’s website.
Kevin Butler, the vice principal for athletics and other school administrators, will be available today from 1 to 3 p.m. in the high school’s main office for students in need of counseling.
Carrafiello had coached the boys basketball team at St. James School in Stratford to back-to-back New England championships.
Due to the untimely nature of Carrafiello’s death, funeral services may be delayed a day or two at the state medical examiner’s request, the firefighter’s friends said.
Condolence messages were posted on the Stratford EMS Facebook page, including one with Carrafiello’s turnout coat draped on a firetruck.
His mother, Donna Carrafiello, died in October at age 62.
“He’s been going through some tough times,’’ said Lampart, the town fire marshal. “But Jay was always among the first to offer to help out, and he was active in the fire department and in the union. He’ll be missed.’’