Fallen Fairfield County SEAL Remembered

STAMFORD, Conn. — Stamford resident and Trinity Catholic High School graduate Brian Bill was one of the U.S. servicemen who died in a helicopter crash over the weekend in Afghanistan. Diane Warzoha, who taught the U.S. Navy SEAL member in Spanish at Trinity, knew he was destined to achieve great things.

“There was no challenge too big for him,” said Warzoha, now the assistant principal for student affairs at Trinity Catholic.

Bill, 31, was aboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter that was shot down Saturday while searching for a Taliban leader in the Sayyidabad district of Afghanistan’s Wardak province, a U.S. Department of Defense statement said. Thirty-eight Afghan and U.S. servicemen were killed, the statement said.

The helicopter aborted the search to aid a ground security force that was exchanging small arms fire with Taliban insurgents, the statement said. An investigation to determine the cause of the crash is under way.

Bill graduated from Trinity Catholic in 1997 and played varsity soccer and hockey, Warzoha said in a phone interview. In his senior year, Bill helped to lead the hockey team to a 12-6 regular season and a Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference tournament berth, the 1997 yearbook said.

Warzoha described Bill as kind and generous and said he would go out of his way to help those in need. “He was always the first to lend a hand,” she said.

Gov. Dannel Malloy and Stamford’s Mayor Michael Pavia offered condolences on Bill’s death.

“My wife, Cathy, and I extend our condolences to his family, and our thoughts and prayers go out to them at this difficult time,” Malloy said in a statement.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this very difficult time. We sincerely appreciate the sacrifice that Brian and his fallen comrades have made for their fellow man and country,” Pavia said in a statement.

Family members could not be reached for comment Monday. 

Did you know Brian Bill? Share your memories and experiences below or send them to reporter Anthony Buzzeo at tbuzzeo@TheDailyStamford.com. 

Click here to follow Daily Voice Norwalk and receive free news updates.