Eliopoulis
WATERTOWN — CSEA is mourning the loss of Central Region member Gregory Eliopoulos, who died Nov. 20 while working the evening shift at the City of Watertown’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.
A process worker, Eliopoulos and co-worker James Burke were performing maintenance on a high-pressure hydraulic line feeding a filter press machine, when a fitting came off the machine, fatally striking Eliopoulos.
CSEA Occupational Safety and Health Specialist Josh Kemp was on site the next day, joining a state Department of Labor Public Employee Safety and Health (PESH) Bureau investigator and City of Watertown Police to investigate the incident. Kemp said the union’s ongoing investigation centers on what, if anything, could have been done to prevent the incident, as well as ensuring that the employer adhered to proper workplace safety procedures and safety laws.
Eliopoulos, 54, of Sackets Harbor, had worked for the city for 10 years. He is survived by his wife Kim, a longtime CSEA member working at the Jefferson County Department of Social Services. Also surviving are his children, Eric, Bruce, Cristina and Autumn.
In a local newspaper, he was remembered as someone who loved “his Harley Davidson, his pet dogs, building things in his workshop, telling inappropriate jokes and, most importantly, his family.”
CSEA President Danny Donohue and Central Region President Colleen Wheaton were among the numerous people who expressed condolences.
“We are deeply saddened to hear about the loss of Mr. Eliopoulos,” Donohue said. “Our heartfelt sympathies are with his loved ones and co-workers.”
“Our CSEA family extends our sympathies and heartfelt condolences to Mr. Eliopoulos’ family, friends and co-workers,” said Wheaton.
A fund to help the family with funeral expenses has been established online at:
www.gofundme.com/Greg- Eliopoulos-Memorial-Fund.
— Mark M. Kotzin
