Chris Rafferty of Facilities Services and his wife Jill receive Samaritan Award

August 9, 2022

From left, Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo, Evan Rafferty ’26, Chris Rafferty, Sheriff's Sgt. Ryan Mahan, New York State Trooper Taylor Salaway, and State Police Capt. Shawnda Walbridge are seen after the Raffertys, Mahan, and Salaway were honored by Zurlo for lifesaving actions involving a motorcycle accident in Wilton.

Chris Rafferty, who works as HVAC technician lead in Skidmore’s Facilities Services, and his wife Jill were recently honored with the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office’s Samaritan Award for helping to save the life of an injured motorcyclist involved in a crash.

The Raffertys, of Moreau, were driving on Route 9 in Wilton when they came upon the accident on July 29. Chris Rafferty applied a bandana as a tourniquet to the victim’s severed leg to slow the bleeding, and he and Jill remained on the scene to provide comfort and assist until police and emergency medical services arrived.

“It is truly what we do when nobody is looking that defines what a hero is,” said Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo. “The selflessness and compassion shown toward a fellow human being on the part of the Raffertys was perhaps one of the most commendable acts I’ve seen in my career."

Chris and the Raffertys’ son Evan ’26, who accepted the award on his mother’s behalf, were honored at an Aug. 3 ceremony alongside the sheriff’s officer and state trooper who applied additional tourniquets at the scene. Evan is a member of the Sheriff’s Office’s Explorer program.