Katonah's Donald Schaus, Sr. Awarded Carnegie Medal for Heroism

In late February of this year, Donald Schaus, Sr. of Katonah pulled 82-year-old Richard J. Fitzgerald out of Fitzgerald’s burning apartment in Bedford Hills, a rescue for which Schaus was recently awarded a Carnegie Medal from the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.

Sadly, Fitzgerald ended up passing away from the burns he suffered. Schaus, 52, the building’s superintendent, also required treatment in the hospital for smoke inhalation.

The following is a description from the commission about Schaus’ efforts:

Responding to the scene, he attempted to unlock the apartment’s door but was not successful. He then kicked the door in to find that smoke in the apartment severely restricted visibility. After entering the unit but being repulsed by smoke, he yelled inside and heard Fitzgerald groan. Schaus entered the apartment a second time, but crawling, and found Fitzgerald lying on a bed about 10 feet from the door. Schaus pulled Fitzgerald from the bed and started to drag him to the door, but an ottoman blocked his path. Releasing Fitzgerald, he picked up the ottoman and threw it from the apartment. He then returned to Fitzgerald and dragged him outside, where he used snow from the ground to extinguish flames on his clothing and body.

Schaus is one of 19 people this month to receive recognition by the commission for heroism. According to the group, medals are awarded ”throughout the United States and Canada to those who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others.”

Click here to read about the honor and the remaining recipients on the commission’s website.