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Award Announcement Archive Heroes
Officer John Smith, 2019 Awardee

86-year-old oldest-ever Carnegie Medal recipient among 17 named Carnegie heroes

Posted on September 22, 2020 by Jewels Phraner

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 22, 2020 — The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission today announced 17 people have been named Carnegie heroes for entering into mortal danger to rescue others. They each will receive the Carnegie Medal – the highest honor for civilian heroism in the U.S. and Canada – for risking their lives while trying to save others from life-threatening perils.

Among those cited was Fusako M. Petrus of North Highlands, Calif., who, on April 26, 2017, died while saving her walking partner from assault on the school track she walked with friends six days a week for nearly 50 years (except when it rained). Known throughout her life as a dedicated and loyal friend, Petrus ultimately sacrificed her life for her friend. At 86 years old, Petrus becomes the oldest person ever to be awarded the Carnegie Medal. At the time of her death she was 19 days older than the previously oldest medal recipient, also 86 years old, who was awarded in 2003.

The Carnegie Medal is given throughout the U.S. and Canada to those who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others. With this third announcement of 2020 recipients, a total of 10,185 Carnegie Medals have been awarded since the Pittsburgh-based Fund’s inception in 1904. Commission Chair Mark Laskow said each of the awardees or their survivors will also receive a financial grant. Throughout the 116 years since the Fund was established by industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, more than $42 million has been given in one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits, and continuing assistance.

The awardees are:

  • Donald C. Lowrie, Islamorada, Fla.
  • Henry F.F. Grant, South Egremont, Mass.
  • Edward S. Cyr, Tolland, Conn.
  • Kenneth Stead, Cold Lake, Alta.
  • Anthony Moss, Arlington, Wash.
  • John-Paul Jasmins, Delta, B.C.
  • Moyses Arreguin, deceased, Houston
  • Mickie Fenwick, Abilene, Texas
  • Michael Garcia, Abilene, Texas
  • Michael Hieronymus, Maricopa, Ariz.
  • Pierre Joseph Gibbons, Baltimore
  • Albert Madrid, deceased, Highland, Calif.
  • James Glorioso, Jr., Amsterdam, N.Y.
  • Vladmir Orelus, deceased, Avon, Mass.
  • Matthew M. Hanna, Sun City, Ariz.
  • Luis Alberto Mendoza, Loves Park, Ill.
  • Fusako M. Petrus, deceased, North Highlands, Calif.

To nominate someone for the Carnegie Medal, complete a nomination form online, write the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission at 436 Seventh Ave., Suite 1101, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, or call 1-800-447-8900. More information on the Carnegie Medal and the history of the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission can be found at carnegiehero.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.


News release PDF

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