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Saunders was born and raised in Stamford. He attended public schools, and became a Stamford firefighter in 1985 when he was only 20.
He earned two unit citations, including one in his first year. The first citation came when a man became trapped in the drive shaft under an oil truck that he was trying to repair. Saunders had worked as a mechanic so he was able to lead the crew in taking apart the truck. The man did not survive, but they were able to extract the body from the wreckage. His second commendation was in 1995 when Saunders was part of a crew that responded to a fire on East Walnut Street, where they rescued two children and one adult male, providing care until EMS arrived.
In 2000, Saunders became a Hazardous Materials Technician, adding that certification to Firefighter levels 1 and 2, and Emergency Response Technician.
He maintained his love for cars, both racing and collecting classic cars.
He is survived by his wife Cathy, and two stepchildren: Michael and Kelly of Marlborough.
For details, read the Stamford Fire Department’s official obituary.
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