Survivor List
(last names beginning with "Z")

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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Zagora, Mrs. Stella; Rockville
  •  Was awarded $1,500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire ($7,500 sought).THC
Zaporowicz, Leo F.; Pvt., Bat. “C” 239th, A.A.A., Bradley Field
  • 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. 
Zeiler, Carl; Glastonbury
  •  Reported missing.THC
Zeruk, Mrs. Marie; 105 Front St, Hartford
  •  Awarded $4,000 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Zesut, Mrs. Anna; 59 Spring St, Glastonbury
  •  Awarded $2,000 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC
Zesut, William; 59 Spring St, Glastonbury
  •  Injured, patient at Municipal Hospital.THC
Zimmerman, Eric; 496 Griswold St, Glastonbury
  •  Reported missing, found safe.THC
Zimmerman, Rose; 496 Griswold St, Glastonbury
  •  Reported missing, found safe.THC
Zingle, Dolores (6)
  • Attended the circus with her father, John Zingle; her grandmother, Helen Deskus Zingle; and her brother Thomas (1). Dolores heard the band's music change and everyone was leaving, she didn't know what was happening until someone said "Fire!".  When they reached the ground, they were carried along by the crowd. They all escaped safely.CFM
Zingle, Helen Deskus (adult)
  • Attended the circus with her son Thomas Zingle and her grandchildren Dolores (6) and Thomas Zingle (1). All escaped safely.CFM
Zingle, John (adult)
  • Attended the circus with his mother, Helen Deskus Zingle; his son Thomas (1); and his daughter Dolores (6). All escaped safely.CFM
Zingle, Thomas (1)
  • Attended the circus with his father, John Zingle; his grandmother Helen Deskus Zingle; and his sister Dolores (6). All escaped safely.CFM
Zito, Dora Ann (11); Euclid St, Hartford
  • Dora went to the circus with neighbors, and escaped by crawling under the sidewall of the big top, or possibly pushed through.  When she got out, she was alone and couldn’t find the neighbors she came with.  An older gentleman asked her about family she told them she was alone so he took her to her home.  When she got home her mother asked her why she was so dirty, and she didn’t believe the story that Dora told her.  Dora didn’t discuss the fire too often, but she would get anxiety when the circus came to town in Muskegon, Michigan, every year.   She’d keep the news of the circus coming to town quiet so her children wouldn’t ask to go.   As she got older, she would talk about the fire a little more but it was still very upsetting to her.
  • Dora Ann (Zito) Garzelloni, 78, of Wethersfield, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011. [link to obituary / back-up link]

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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