The Cheshire community is reeling from a heart-wrenching tragedy that claimed the life of Zackary Naoumides, a 32-year-old man whose warmth and compassion touched countless lives. In the early hours of Tuesday, August 12, 2025, a ferocious house fire tore through a home on Brookside Place, leaving devastation in its wake. Zackary, beloved by his family, friends, and colleagues, was found in the wreckage alongside his devoted rescue pit bull mix, Paige, their unbreakable bond enduring even in the face of unimaginable loss.
Lori Stocks, Zackary’s mother, spoke through tears as she shared the poignant detail of her son’s final moments. “They found him with his dog,” she said, her voice trembling with grief. “He was a good, kind soul.” Her words paint a vivid picture of a young man whose gentle spirit and deep love for animals and people alike left an indelible mark on those who knew him.
Zackary was at home with his father when the blaze erupted around 3 a.m. His father, awakened by the flames, managed to escape and sought help from a neighbor before being rushed to a hospital for treatment. Tragically, Zackary could not be reached in time. Firefighters, battling a fire so intense that parts of the two-story Colonial home collapsed, later discovered his body amid the debris, with Paige steadfastly by his side. The Cheshire Department of Public Works was called in to assist, using heavy equipment to carefully sift through the rubble as investigators worked to uncover the fire’s cause.
Zackary’s sister, Alyssa Naoumides, described him as a beacon of light—generous, lovable, and effortlessly sociable. “Everybody liked him. He was great with people,” she said, her voice breaking as she recalled her brother’s magnetic personality. At the animal hospital in Wallingford where he worked, Zackary was a cherished team member, adored by clients for his genuine care and tenderness. “The clients at the vet hospital loved him,” Alyssa added, a testament to his ability to connect with others.
Beyond his work, Zackary had dreams of making an even greater impact. He had been exploring a path toward becoming a wound care nurse, a career that would have allowed him to channel his compassion into healing others. His aspirations reflected a life dedicated to kindness and service, a legacy that now lives on in the memories of those who loved him.
The loss of Paige, Zackary’s loyal companion, adds another layer of sorrow to this tragedy. “My brother, that was her person. She protected him,” Alyssa said, her words heavy with emotion. “She just loved him so much.” True to her role as Zackary’s protector, Paige was found beside him in the wreckage, a heartrending symbol of their bond. The family’s other dog, Lucy, a corgi, remains missing, though Alyssa clings to a flicker of hope that she may have escaped the inferno.
The fire’s ferocity left the home a total loss, with the second floor collapsing onto the first in some areas. Firefighters from surrounding departments joined Cheshire’s crews in a valiant effort to extinguish the blaze, while Cheshire detectives, the local fire marshal, and the Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit continue to probe the fire’s origin. As of Wednesday, August 13, 2025, an autopsy had yet to be completed, and authorities had not officially released Zackary’s name, though his family’s accounts leave no doubt about the identity of the man lost.
In the quiet town of Cheshire, Zackary Naoumides will be remembered as a bright spirit whose love for animals and people knew no bounds. His infectious kindness, his unwavering dedication to those around him, and his dreams of a future spent helping others will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and community. As they navigate the pain of this profound loss, they hold tight to memories of a man who lived with purpose and love—a man whose final moments were spent with his faithful companion by his side, a testament to a life filled with devotion and care.
