On April 28, CSEA and workers around the world will remember those who went to work — and never came home.
On Workers’ Memorial Day, we remember those who died or became severely injured while doing their jobs, including our CSEA brothers and sisters.
Among the members we honor and remember are Gregory Eliopoulous, Stephen Giorgio III, Jean MacDonald, Jeffrey Farrell and Dennis “Matt” Howe.
We remember them not just as workers who passed away on the job, but as the people they were.
We also use Workers’ Memorial Day to renew our ongoing commitment to safe and healthy workplaces. These workplace deaths are preventable, and we will continue to fight until everyone can do their jobs safely.
Please take time to attend a Workers’ Memorial Day event near you. Visit your CSEA region page at cseany.org in coming weeks for more information.
In Memoriam
Eliopoulis
Gregory Eliopoulous, 54
Nov. 20, 2017
City of Watertown Sewage Treatment Plant Process Worker Gregory Eliopoulous, passed away Nov. 20, 2017, from injuries he sustained while performing maintenance on a high-pressure hydraulic line feeding a filter press machine.
Eliopoulous, a 10-year emoloyee who lived in Sackets Harbor 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.
Giorgio
Stephen Giorgio III, 63
Dec. 13, 2017
Town of Oyster Bay employee Stephen Giorgio III passed away on Dec. 13, 2017, from an illness that stemmed from a woman behaving in a violent, aggressive manner while Giorgio was driving a town bus. PESH investigators believed he became ill from being affected by the incident.
Jean MacDonald, 61
Nov. 14, 2018
Town of Hempstead sanitation worker Jean L. MacDonald, 61, passed
away on Nov. 14, 2018, from injuries sustained while collecting leaves
on a local street. MacDonald, who lived in Freeport, was known as an
“exemplary” and “hardworking” 12-year employee of the town.
Farrell
Jeffrey Farrell, 30
Jan. 18, 2019
Monroe County employee Jeffrey Farrell, 30, passed away Jan. 18, 2019, from a workplace incident while he was working below ground inside a sewer grate. A tractor-trailer traveled down an embankment and struck a light pole and two vehicles. Farrell passed away while trying to escape.
A recent county hire, Farrell is survived by his parents, sister and other extended family, including his dog. He also enjoyed playing hockey.
Dennis “Matt” Howe, 45
March 18, 2019
State Department of Transportation employee Dennis “Matt” Howe, 45, passed away on March 18, 2019, from injuries sustained in a March 13 incident in which a tractor-trailer struck a DOT vehicle he was in while a state crew was performing highway safety work.
