Friends and staff of Great Swamp NWR pay tribute to Rich Guadagno, a recipient of the Department of Interior’s Valor Award for his heroism on September 11, 2001

On September 29, 2012, family members, Refuge staff, and Friends gathered  to dedicate the Visitor Center pavilion in memory of Richard J. Guadagno and to celebrate what would have been his fiftieth birthday. The dedication included the unveiling of a memorial rock and a plaque with the following inscription.

RICHARD J. GUADAGNO
SEPTEMBER 26, 1962 – SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

Richard J. Guadagno, a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) employee, passionately devoted his life to the conservation of natural resources. He was the Refuge Manager of Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge in California and a trained law enforcement officer when his flight, United Airlines 93, was hijacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001. Rich was among the brave passengers and flight crew whose heroic actions prevented further tragedy that fateful day.

Rich grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Rutgers University in 1984. After several positions with NJ Fish & Wildlife and USFWS, his first refuge manager position, as a trainee, was obtained at Great Swamp in 1988. Rich managed four more refuges before moving to Humboldt Bay NWR in 2000.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET