Malloy signs Emily Fedorko bill into law [Greenwich Time]

September 21, 2015

Article as it appeared in the Greenwich Time

With the signing of his name, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Friday turned “Emily’s Bill” into “Emily’s Law” and finalized new regulations for safe boating created in the aftermath of the tragic accident that killed Greenwich teenager Emily Fedorko.

Fedorko, 16, was killed Aug. 6, 2014, while being towed on a tube in Long Island Sound off Greenwich Point. The law created in her memory will make it illegal for anyone under the age of 16 to operate a boat towing a tuber or water skier and require any boat operator to complete a safety course on safe towing.

“We did not want in any way to discourage or impede the ability of people to enjoy boating,” Emily’s father, Joe Fedorko, said at the signing ceremony, held in Stamford. “Rather, we wanted to encourage having fun in the water with further safety requirements.”

In signing the law, Malloy said it was a common sense approach that would increase safety.

Malloy signed the bill surrounded by Fedorko’s parents, family supporters, legislators and board members of the Emily Catherine Fedorko Foundation, which was founded after her death to promote safe boating education.

The Greenwich legislative delegation to Hartford, state Reps. Livvy Floren, Michael Bocchino and Fred Camillo, attended the signing, along with state Sen. L. Scott Frantz, a major supporter of the bill in the Senate.

“This is an event I believe will commemorate and honor one of the most wonderful young ladies,” Frantz said. “I didn’t know her but I’ve heard so many stories about her. My kids knew her and she was an amazing young girl.”

Frantz and Malloy praised the Fedorkos for coming together after the tragedy by forming their foundation and pushing for legislation that could save lives.

“While we know no law can ever keep an accident from ever happening again I do believe a properly well-crafted bill with an educational component in it, just like Emily’s Law, will serve a great purpose in reducing the chance of any accident,” Frantz said.

After the bill was signed, the Fedorkos said they were glad something positive could rise out of tragedy.

“It feels great,” Joe Fedorko said. “It was one of our first thoughts early on. Two days after, we thought we wanted to have something in honor of our daughter Emily and be able to save lives and bring change.”

Emily’s mother, Pam Fedorko, added, “Education is so important. We want people to go out on the water and have fun but be safe and think before they go out.”

The family said they continue to be touched by the outpouring of support for them, not just from their friends but from Emily’s classmates, government officials and others who have helped them.

“We both feel that we are extremely blessed to live in the community that we live in,” Pam Fedorko said. “We are surrounded by amazing friends and family. We continue to get messages and cards from people we don’t even know and the people we do know say they think about us constantly. We’re so grateful.”

“We wouldn’t be able to be here right now without the support and without that drive that everyone has,” Joe Fedorko said. “This is such a wonderful place to live.”

The signing was held at Goodway Technologies, an industrial equipment manufacturing company owned by Greenwich resident Tim Kane, a family friend and a trustee of the foundation “Within 48 hours of Emily’s death, Joe and Pam had assembled a group of close friends and acquaintances to establish the foundation,” Kane said. “I was part of the initial group. We’re family friends with the Fedorkos. We’ve coached together here in town. We have boated together in town and have known them for many, many years.”

Kane said he plans for his company to develop products to help boating safety, one of which was unveiled at Friday’s signing: Emily’s Flag, which will be used to alert boaters when someone is being towed so they’ll know someone is in the water.

“We feel this can only help to avoid some accidents that take place in our waters,” Joe Fedorko said.

Thanks to donations made to the foundation, he said the flags will be distributed for free at next weekend’s Progressive Insurance Norwalk Boat Show.

Susan Whalen, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, made the trip to the signing ceremony and praised the Fedorkos as well as the legislators for making the law a reality, saying it closed a hole in the educational requirements to be a boater.

“Emily’s Law will put in place safeguards that will help prevent injury or tragedy from ever taking place again,” said Greenwich Selectman Drew Marzullo, a longtime EMT for the Greenwich Emergency Medical Service, who was not on hand due to work requirements, but has been a vocal proponent of new safety measures since the accident occurred. “I am thankful to all those involved for making this happen. However, it is profoundly sad for Emily’s family that action signed today is a result of unimaginable circumstance. Their strength throughout has been remarkable.”

The crowd was so large for the turnout that Malloy had trouble using enough ceremonial pens to give out to supporters on hand. Floren jokingly suggested he lengthen his name but ultimately he used one pen per letter and presented a copy of the signed bill to the Fedorkos.

“I have to believe that Emily is somewhere smiling because her parents have such great strength and cared so much for her and her memory that they would do this after their own tragedy,” Malloy said.