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Services Set For Stratford's Jonathan Best, 62, Committed To Public Safety

STRATFORD, Conn. — Jonathan Best of Stratford,  who devoted his life to public safety and emergency management, died suddenly at Milford Hospital on Thursday, July 27. He was 62. 

Jonathan Best

Jonathan Best

Photo Credit: Contributed

Best was the beloved husband of Donna Malino Best. He was born Oct. 9, 1954, in Manhattan to the late David and Judith Best. 

Best had 44 years of experience in providing services, management, consulting, education and training in public safety and emergency management. 

He received the Grand Cordon Citation / Meritorious Service Medal for his command and rescue operation at the L’Ambiance Plaza building collapse in Bridgeport in 1987. 

Best was currently employed by the state of Connecticut as the director of Public Health Preparedness and Response.

He began his career as a corpsman and corpsman supervisor in the New York City Emergency Medical Service System. 

Best had also been employed by the Joint Hospital Planning Council of Bridgeport in the Emergency Medical Services Division and the City of Bridgeport as director of Emergency Services. 

He also had previously been the fire chief for the Town of Fairfield and had worked at Rollins Hudig Hall/Aon Corp. as a risk control consultant and at Transcare NY as director of risk management and ambulance operations. 

Best had also been director of safety fleet services and administration  at Connecticut Limousine, senior vice president at Regional Medical Transport of NYC and executive director at Westchester EMS Stellaris Health System.    

He was named EMT/paramedic of the year by the Emergency Medical Services Magazine among his many awards and citations. He also held numerous certifications in emergency management both as a practitioner and as an instructor.

In addition to his beloved wife Donna of 27 years, Best is survived by his children, Alan Pierce and wife Alexandra of Stratford, Jennifer Frioni and husband David of Wallingford, Jillian O’Connor and husband Patrick of Stratford, Daniel Best and wife Molly of New Jersey; his eight grandchildren, Jack, Kate, Nathan, Sarah, Stella, Lukas, Eli, and Kaylee; his sister, Dinah Rader and husband Neil of New York; his two nephews, L.J and Benjamin; and his mother-in-law, Helen Malino. 

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, July 31, at the Galello-Luchansky Funeral Home, 2220 Main St., Stratford. 

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Aug. 1, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Union Cemetery Stratford. 

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