Son Of Newtown Police Detective

Dies In Snowboarding Accident

An 18-year-old student at Southern Connecticut State University died on January 2 after a snowboarding accident at a Massachusetts ski area.

Brian Tvardzik of Trumbull, an education major, hit a tree on a beginner’s trail at Jiminy Peak in Hancock, Mass. He later died at Berkshire Medical Center in nearby Pittsfield, Mass.

Brian Tvardzik was a son of Robert Tvardzik, who heads the Newtown Police Department’s detective division, and his wife, Denise Kraycar Tvardzik, of Trumbull. Detective Sergeant Robert Tvardzik has been a member of the police department for more than 30 years.

Jiminy Peak’s owner, Brian Fairbank, told The Berkshire Eagle that ski area staff could not have prevented the accident. Brian Tvardzik was the first person to die at the ski area since February 2002.

A contingent of Newtown police officers and Police Commission members attended Brian’s wake in Trumbull on the night of January 4. The funeral was held on January 5.

Newtown Police Captain Joe Rios said, “Brian was a great kid, a great young man who was full of promise,” of whom his parents were very proud.

Capt Rios termed Brian’s sudden death “the most devastating of circumstances… Our hearts go out to [Robert Tvardzik] and his family.”

The captain said Brian was a respectful young man who was involved in youth sports. “I had seen him pitch [baseball] for Trumbull High School. He was a class individual. Any parent would have been proud to have him as their son.”

Detective Robert Koetsch said, “The men and women of the Newtown Police Department detective division are deeply saddened by Brian’s death. Bob and Denise Tvardzik are wonderful, devoted parents and are upset by their sudden loss. Our hearts and prayers go out to Bob, Denise, and Tim Tvardzik,” Det Koetsch said.

Born in Bridgeport, Brian Robert Tvardzik was a graduate of Trumbull High School, Class of 2004, where he played baseball. He also played in Trumbull Little League, Babe Ruth, and American Legion, and was an avid sports fan and golfer. He was a freshman at SCSU and a member of the St Theresa Parish Youth Group and basketball team.

In addition to his parents survivors include his brother Timothy Robert Tvardzik, maternal grandmother Cecilia Kraycar, and paternal grandmother Anne Tvardzik all of Trumbull; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was predeceased by his maternal grandfather, Stephen Kraycar, and paternal grandfather, Andrew Tvardzik, and by his uncle, William Tvardzik, all of Trumbull.

Funeral services were held January 5 from Redgate-Hennessy Funeral Home in Trumbull, and at St Theresa Church with a Mass of Christian Burial, with interment in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Trumbull High School Diamond Club, c/o Athletic Department, 72 Strobel Road, Trumbull CT 06611.