Westport Firefighter Turk Aksoy, 46, Dies Of Cancer

WESTPORT, CT — Turk Aksoy, a 13-year veteran of the Westport Fire Department and many years prior to that as a paramedia, passed away Friday from an occupational cancer, according to the Westport Uniformed Firefighters Association, Local 1081.

Aksoy was 46 years old. He was predeceased by his wife, Denise, in January 2019, and he leaves behind two children.

"Turk will be memorialized by the Westport Firefighters, Local 1081 and the Westport Fire Department; the details of his services are still pending," union officials said. "Please keep Turk’s children, his family, friends and fellow firefighters in your thoughts for strength and healing in this difficult time."

The Westport Fire Department released the following statement on Saturday about a procession for Firefighter Aksoy. His body was transported from Branford to Westport on I-95, and along Route 1 in Westport:

Please expect increased traffic delays today as the body of fallen firefighter Turk Aksoy is transported to Harding Funeral Home in Westport. Firefighter Aksoy will be picked up in Branford at 1pm. He will then be transported down I-95 to exit 19. The procession will exit at 19 and head westbound on Route 1 until it reaches the funeral home. It is anticipated that the procession will pass through Westport between 2:00-2:20. This may have an impact on traffic along Route 1 with a focus on the area of Route 1 and Imperial Ave. Imperial Ave may be closed for a short between Jessup Rd and Route 1 upon arrival at the funeral home. Westport Firefighters will be lined up at the funeral home to receive Firefighter Aksoy. Westport Fire Department would like to thank Westport Police, CT State Police, Branford Police, and all of the area departments for their support and assistance in this difficult time.

In April, a GoFundMe page was established to help support his children. It is still accepting donations and as of Saturday morning, it had raised more than $58,000. Click here to view the GoFundMe page.

Testifying before a Connecticut state House Labor Committee in 2016, Aksoy said this:

And, you know, it's not easy. Every morning you wake up and you got to put your feet on the floor because you have a family looking after you and hopefully, you know, I'll go back to work tonight actually, and then tomorrow I'm back in New York City starting chemo again. You know, and that'll wipe me out for three days until I have to go back to work again. You know, and it's tough on my kids, it's tough on my wife…

"Occupational cancer has proven to be the new epidemic we face in the fire service, far too many members of the fire service have been lost to this relentless illness," union officials said. "Rest in Peace Turk, you have served your community with tremendous honor and will be greatly missed."