Carnegie Hero Michael D. Croft, 77, of Cheektowaga, New York, died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022.
Croft was awarded the Carnegie Medal in 1986 after he rescued an 84-year-old man from a burning home. Then a 40-year-old off-duty police officer, Croft ran to his neighbor’s burning house. Despite dense smoke which limited his visibility, Croft entered the home, found the man who was semi-conscious on the floor and dragged him from the home.
Croft served the Buffalo, New York, police department for 25 years. He was a Senior Knight (Third Degree) with the father Justin Knights of Columbus.
Croft was survived by his wife of 52 years, Anne (DiVincenzo); children Sean M. Croft, Kaitlin Strollo, and Tim Drake; grandchildren, Kayla, Lilliana, Emma, Jackson, Leyna, Jameson, Anna, and Garrett; sister Patricia Frankenberger; brothers Robert and Daniel Croft; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by brother James Croft.