The Cheshire community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of Zackary Naoumides, 32, who tragically perished in a devastating house fire on Brookside Place in the early morning hours of Tuesday. His mother, Lori Stocks, through tears, shared the poignant detail that her son was found with his beloved dog, Paige, by his side — a testament to their inseparable bond.
“He was a good, kind soul,” Lori said, remembering her son’s warmth, compassion, and the deep love he carried for both people and animals.
According to Lori and Zackary’s sister, Alyssa Naoumides, Zackary was inside the residence with his father when the fire broke out. His father managed to escape and was transported to the hospital for treatment. Zackary, however, could not be reached in time. Authorities, who have not yet formally released his name, confirmed that the body of the missing man was discovered in the charred remains of the home later that day.
Zackary was employed at an animal hospital in Wallingford, where his gentle nature and genuine care left a lasting impression on clients and co-workers alike. Alyssa described him as “generous, lovable, and sociable,” the kind of person who made friends everywhere he went. “Everyone liked him. He was wonderful with people. The clients at the veterinary hospital adored him,” she said.
Outside of work, Zackary had been seriously considering advancing his education by pursuing a degree in wound care nursing — a reflection of his deep desire to help and heal others.
One of the most heartrending parts of this tragedy was the loss of Paige, Zackary’s loyal rescue pit bull mix. “My brother, he was her person. She protected him. She loved him so much,” Alyssa said. As firefighters combed through the wreckage, they found Paige right beside Zackary, their bond unbroken even in death.
Another family dog, Lucy, a corgi, remains unaccounted for, but Alyssa holds hope that she may have escaped the blaze.
The fire, which broke out around 3 a.m., was so intense that parts of the home collapsed, prompting the Cheshire Department of Public Works to assist investigators in carefully sifting through the debris with heavy equipment. Multiple nearby fire departments joined efforts to extinguish the flames, while Cheshire detectives and the fire marshal continue to investigate the cause.
In the wake of this unimaginable loss, Zackary will be remembered as a bright spirit, a compassionate heart, and a friend to all creatures great and small. His life was marked by kindness, generosity, and an enduring love for both people and animals — a love that followed him to his final moments.
His family, friends, co-workers, and community now face the difficult task of saying goodbye to a man whose absence will be deeply felt.
If you’d like, I can also create a more personal, heartfelt memorial version of this for sharing on social media or in a community remembrance post, with more warmth and less of a news format.
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