Survivor List
(last names beginning with "T")

Nearly 7,000 circus fans attended the afternoon show on July 6, 1944, and many were fortunate enough to survive the blaze. Here are the names of some of the survivors, and also the names of those who helped or are otherwise associated with the Hartford Circus Fire, though they may not have been in attendance during the tragic performance.

Names are sorted by "last name first"; in cases of women who got married after the circus fire, their name in 1944 is used when known. The search function at the top of the each page can also be used to search the entire website for a name or term.

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Tarascio, Mrs. Helen Ann (23); 145 Roosevelt St, Hartford
  • Awarded $500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.  Mrs. Tarascio was pushed off her chair and struck in the back by falling debris, her hair was singed and she received brusies and abrasions to her limbs and ankles.  She experienced severe nervous shock, and continued to suffer from nervousness and stomach pains that required medical attention.  
 Tasillo, Mrs. Lillian (33); 598 Ridge Rd, Wethersfield
  • Awarded $3,500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire, including a sprained back and multiple contusions over her body.
Taylor, Mrs. Florence; 16 Daniel St, East Hartford
  • Was awarded $2,000 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC
Taylor, Frank; 16 Daniel St, East Hartford
  • Was awarded $800 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC
Temkin, Mrs. Rena (35); 31 Earle St, Hartford
  • Still remained at Hartford Hospital, Monday, July 11.THC
  • Awarded $3,882.20 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire, including second degree burns of both arms, upper back, shoulders, and top of head.  Mrs. Temkin sustained a twisted right foot and ankle when her foot became stuck in a step while escaping from the burning big top.  
Temkin, Sandra (5); 31 Earle St, Hartford
  • Still remained at Hartford Hospital, Monday, July 11.THC
  • Awarded $2,840.50 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire, including second and deep second degree burns of both arms and right thigh, experienced nervousness and was unable to sleep.  
Teneyek, George L.; Cincinnati, OH
  • Accepted $50 as settlement with RBBB for minor injuries received as a result of the fire.THC
Terisavage, George (56); 133 Sigourney St, Hartford
  • Awarded $800 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire, consisting of a bruised right leg, coughing and digestive trouble since the fire. 
Thomas, Mrs. Angelina (adult); 20 Ann St, East Hartford
  • Attended circus with her mother and 3 children.  Mrs. Thomas saw two dirty looking men who appeared to be circus help sitting to the right of the main entrance, about halfway down. She heard one man say to the other "let's sit in the back row" and soon after she saw the fire on the canvas roof. She did not see fire on the sidewall. Angelina and her family exited the tent and saw nothing more of the suspicious men. 
Thomas, Robert J.; Cpl., 162 Base Unit, Bradley Field; Montana
  • Attended the circus with a group of convalescing soldiers from Bradley Field in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.  The group sat in Reserved Section A, first and second rows.  At the conclusion of the animal act, they heard a cry of “FIRE” from behind them and to their left; they looked back and saw fire where the sidewall meets the roof canvas.  When the fire began to spread rapidly, the group hurried out of the big top.  
Thompson, Mrs. Anna Doyle (adult); East Road, Bristol
  • Was in the Municipal Hospital suffering from severe burns. She attended the circus with her husband and son, Joe Thompson and daughter Judith Doyle. The latter was slightly burned and was able to return home after treatment.
  • Still remained at Hartford Hospital, Monday, July 11.THC
Thompson, Mr. (adult); East Road, Bristol
  • Attended circus with his wife, Mrs. Anna Doyle Thompson, and son Joe Thompson and his wife's daughter Judith Doyle.
Thompson, Joe; East Road, Bristol
  • Attended circus with his father, his mother Mrs. Anna Doyle Thompson, and sister Judith Doyle. Listed as "Robert" in some reports, "Joe" is confirmed to be correct by the family.
Thompson, John Francis "Jack" (6); Undercliff Sanatorium, Meriden
  • Attended the circus with his father Dr. Lawrence Thompson and family friend Dr. Paul Mason de la Vergne and his wife and son Elizabeth and David de la Vergne.  The group sat in the top row of bleachers, but Elizabeth relocated to a lower seat due to her fear of heights.  The men escaped the tent by sliding down the ropes behind the bleachers and dropping the boys down; Elizabeth never made it out alive. 
Thompson, Dr. Lawrence "Tommy"; Undercliff Sanatorium, Meriden
  • Attended the circus with his son Jack Thompson and family friend Dr. Paul Mason de la Vergne and his wife and son Elizabeth and David de la Vergne. The group sat in the top row of bleachers, but Elizabeth relocated to a lower seat due to her fear of heights.  The men escaped the tent by sliding down the ropes behind the bleachers and dropping the boys down; Elizabeth never made it out alive.  
Tibbals, Alice; 7 Saybrook Rd, Middletown
  • Was awarded $2,500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC
​Tierney, Gus (youth)
  • Attended the circus with the Jim McCarthy group, all escaped unharmed.  Read Jim McCarthy’s story here: Personal Accounts - Page 8.
Tierney, Tom (youth)
Tillbrook, Emma (Walter) (adult); William St., Middletown
  • Attended circus with her grand-daughter, Sandra Louise Logan, and her daughter, Lillian (Tillbrook) Logan. Sandra perished in the fire.
Titus, Irene (5)
  • Attended the circus with her brother John Titus and Edna Ferrante. They sat in the southeast bleachers, and were one of the first to escape, exiting between the southeast bleachers and Section K. Nobody in the group was injured. 
Titus, John (11)
  • Attended the circus with his sister Irene Titus and Edna Ferrante. They sat in the southeast bleachers, and were one of the first to escape, exiting between the southeast bleachers and Section K. Nobody in the group was injured. 
Toccalini, Mrs. Grace Grabowski (25); 21 Goodsell St, West Hartford
  • Was awarded $1,200 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.  Mrs. Toccalini was pregnant when she attended the circus, and was violently pushed and thrown to the ground, was struck by collapsible chairs, and had to jump over the steel railing to the ground.  She suffered injuries to the right leg and back, and also miscarried.  
Todd, Mrs. J. (adult); Hartford
  • Listed as injured.SDN
Tomasi, John "Jack" (6); New Britain
  • Attended the circus with his aunt Helen Kaminski and cousin Al Kaminski (youth). 
Tomasik, Helen; 69 House St, Glastonbury
  • Reported missing. Was with a group that was near an entrance when the fire started, ran out and went home.THC
Torrell, Spencer; 187 Stratford Rd, New Britain
  • Camera fan, went to circus to photograph the acts. Mr. Torrell was sitting in the second row of a reserved section, right across from the main entrance. Ran to a neighboring house and photographed the flames and crowd, and brought film to the Hartford Courant office when full.THC
Picture
Image of the Toth's courtesy of Louise Toth and Brad Gilchrist, taken a few weeks before the fire. Regina on left, Albert front center, mother Louise rear center with a neighbor's baby, seven-year-old Louise to right of mother, and Joan on the right.
Toth, Albert W. (4), 14 South Woodbine St, Hartford
  • Albert attended the circus with his mother, Louise Toth, his sister Louise, and his sisters Joan and Regina Toth who were celebrating their birthdays. His sister Louise was the only one to escape unharmed; Joan and Regina perished in the fire, and Albert and Louise survived with severe burns. Albert was given a 10% chance of survival, and beat the odds. He passed away in 1987.
  • Still remained at St. Francis Hospital Monday, July 11.THC
Toth, Louise (30); 14 South Woodbine St, Hartford
  • Mrs. Toth attended the circus with her son, Albert, and her daughters Louise, Joan and Regina. Her daughter Louise escaped without injuries, but Joan and Regina perished in the fire; Albert and his mother Louise survived, with severe injuries.
  • Mrs. Toth was hospitalized in a coma for a couple of months with severe burns. She passed away in 1988.
  • Still remained at St. Francis Hospital Monday, July 11.THC​
Toth, Louise (7); 14 South Woodbine St, Hartford
  • Louise attended the circus with her mother, Louise Toth, her brother Albert, and her sisters Joan and Regina Toth who were celebrating their birthdays. Louise was the only one to escape unharmed; Joan and Regina perished in the fire, and Albert and Louise survived with severe burns. 
  • Read an excerpt from Louise's memoirs HERE.
  • Louise Amelia (Toth) Gallinoto, 80, of Avon, passed away on November 21, 2016 after a battle with liver cancer. [obituary]
Townsend, Clarence "Aubrey" (14); Hartford
  • Attended the circus with a group of friends, while his mother and sisters were seated in another section.  Aubrey jumped from the top of the bleachers and used his pocketknife to cut an opening in the canvas wall of the big top so that he and others could escape.   
Travis, Josephine B. (52); 60 Hebron St, Hartford
  • On the Injured List at Municipal Hospital, 7/10/44, critical condition.THC
  • Was awarded $4,000 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire, including a fracture of her left leg at the ankle, injuries to both hands, and bruises sustained when she jumped from the top of the bleachers.
Tripp, Dennis Almanza (youth)
  • Attended the circus with his cousin Robert Everett Johnston and uncle Robert Frederick Johnston.  All of them survived the fire. 
Tucker, Carl (40); 641 Main St, Torrington
  • Was awarded $900 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire, including first degree burns on his face and skull, and second degree burns on his forearm.
Tucker, Mrs. Margaret (38); 641 Main St, Torrington
  • Was awarded $750 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire, including first degree burns on her face, extensive burns to her left forearm, and injuries to her back.
Tyler, June Florence; 29 Vernon Ave, Rockville
  • On the Injured List at Hartford Hospital, 7/7/44.THC
Tyler, Viola; 29 Vernon Ave, Rockville
  • On the Injured List at Hartford Hospital, 7/7/44.THC

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Sources:

TWT: The White Tops magazine
WCF: Women and Children First by Donald H. Roy
CFR: Circus Fire Reminiscences (Manchester Public Library)
MEH: Manchester Evening Herald
TCF: The Circus Fire by Stewart O'Nan
UPI: United Press International
SDN: Springfield Daily News
JOWBR: JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry
THC: The Hartford Courant