Campobello, SC – Deborah "Deb" Ann Clapp nee Pruzynski, 72, of Campobello, South Carolina, passed away, with her husband Michael by her side, on August 15, 2026, after a long, courageous battle with ovarian cancer. Born on April 17, 1954, in Northampton, MA, to her late parents, Peter F. Pruzynski and Elizabeth A. Pruzynski. Deb leaves behind her husband and best friend of 35 years, Michael Clapp of Campobello, SC; Her brother David Pruzynski and sister-in-law Heidi Pruzynski of Chesterfield, MA; her nephew Zachary Pruzynski, niece-in-law Molly Pruzynski and grand-niece, Elka Pruzynski and grand-nephews, Matthew Pruzynski and John Pruzynski of Chesterfield, MA. Deb loved her family, friends and colleagues. She enjoyed quiet time at home with her husband and pets, literature, film and dining in nice restaurants. She had a passion for gardening and botany. She enjoyed being outdoors exploring nature. Deb grew up and lived most of her life in Northampton, MA. She graduated from Northampton HS and then earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology from Smith College. Deb became an emergency medical technician in 1985 and later attended Springfield College and earned her certificate to become a paramedic in 1990, which launched her chosen career path in emergency medical services (EMS). In her EMS career, Deb managed operations in three different ambulance services in Western Massachusetts; she developed and taught the Paramedic Program at Greenfield Community College, which will begin Class # 30 this fall; she went on to work as the Project Investigator and Program Manager of EMS for Children at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health before accepting the position of Executive Director of Western Massachusetts EMS, Inc. (EMS Region I) where she served until her retirement in May of 2023. Also, during her career in EMS, she taught countless other healthcare professionals Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Prehospital Trauma Life Support and numerous other lifesaving courses. Deb's passion for EMS and her unwavering dedication to the field earned her much-deserved recognition from her peers. She was the 2003 recipient of the Eaton E. Freeman Award, which is the highest recognition in EMS Region I. She was a two-time recipient of the Hampshire County EMS Award (2003 and 2007). In 2012, the National EMS for Children Program awarded her the EMS for Children National Heroes Award for contributions towards the mission of EMS for Children, and lastly, in 2023, Western Massachusetts Emergency Medical Services awarded her the Linda J. Moriarty Lifetime Achievement Award. Deb leaves behind a legacy and many family, friends and professional colleagues who love her dearly. There will be a Celebration of Life Event on September 29, 2026, at Union Station, the Roosevelt Room, 125-A Pleasant St., Northampton, MA from 4:30 pm to 8 pm. Please RSVP to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdehLMqCKxt3a6jc4ADQXUNqU2UU58MIZFO2t9Vw-t92UMT2Q/viewform if you plan to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations in Deb's name can be made to Western Massachusetts Emergency Medical Services, Inc, a nonprofit 501c3 organization serving as a resource to all ambulance services and EMS providers in the four western counties of Massachusetts. Donations in Deb's name can be sent to the attention of Lisa Herringshaw, WMEMS, P.O. Box 1278, Northampton, MA 01601. Your donations are tax deductible and appreciated in support of WMEMS, Inc.
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Deborah Ann Clapp