Obituary

Chris Bizjak passed peacefully to join his mother, father and brothers in Heaven on July 11,2025. Chris was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania on March 2, 1958. He is survived by his wife Sarita Gallo Bizjak and son Todd Gillingham. He was preceded in death by his mother, Ann Balchin Bizjak and father Anthony Bizjak, and brothers Tom and Tony. Chris followed in his father’s and brothers’ footsteps joining the Franklin Borough Volunteer Fire Department in Cambria County Pennsylvania as a teenager. He went to the University of Maryland, joining the College Park Volunteer Fire Department and living in the station in the infamous “Sack Room” where college students lived at the fire station. He was hired by McLane Distribution Company in 1980 as a delivery driver, driving a tractor trailer providing product to Pizza Huts and other related restaurants. It is during this endeavor that he met the love of his life, Sarita, who was managing one of the stores he was responsible for supplying. They were married on October 2, 1989. Chris maintained his involvement in the fire and rescue service after moving to Manassas, Virginia, joining the Stonewall Jackson Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, in Prince William County Virginia in 1986. He progressed through the ranks at Stonewall, becoming the Chief of the Department from 1991 to 1996. He retired from McLane in 2005 and was hired by the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue (PWCDFR) as the first Breathing Apparatus Supervisor, responsible for thousands of self-contained breathing apparatus and air cylinders for the entire County, which also included coordinating all of the 1,000-plus firefighters to receive their annual fit test to assure their health and safety. He moved to Culpeper, Virginia during this time and in 2005 joined the Reva Volunteer Fire Department where he served as Assistant Chief from 2011 through 2013. He retired from PWCDFR in 2020, yet he maintained his youthful excitement with the fire service, buying an antique fire engine and restoring it. He built his own fire station at his home which he named the Griffin Gates Historical Fire Society and his fire station held mementos from his and his father’s and brothers’ fire service careers. He and Sarita built a beautiful home in Culpeper and Chris would often say he did not have to go on a vacation because of the views from his deck, overlooking a pond, a horse pasture and the Virginia mountains on the horizon. He is now watching over his family, friends and all fire and rescue providers with his parents and brothers by his side.

A viewing will be hosted on Thursday, July 17th at Hindman Funeral Homes 1521 Frankstown Road, Johnstown PA, 15902, and will begin at 11am with service following at 1pm. Internment will be at Grandview Cemetery.

A celebration of life will be hosted on Friday, July 25th, at Reva Volunteer Fire and Rescue, 18230 Birmingham Road, Culpeper, VA 22701 from 1-4pm with a memorial service ceremony at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Chris’ memory to any of the following: Franklin Borough Volunteer Fire Department, 1125 Main St, Johnstown, PA 5909; College Park Volunteer Fire Department Co 12, 8115 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740; or Reva Volunteer Fire and Rescue, 18230 Birmingham Road, Culpeper, VA 22701