Crystal Dawn Rezzonico was born June 20, 1960, to Dicksie and Joe Arnold. She grew up riding horses in Phoenix with her two sisters Jolynn and Shelly. Crystal was a devoted mother to her two sons, Cutter and Austin.

Crystal was hired on to the Phoenix Fire Department on March 4, 1991, one of two women in Class 91-1. She worked her way up to become an engineer in 1996 and was promoted to captain in 2006, ranking #1 on the captain’s test. Crystal was a mentor at the Phoenix Fire Academy and helped initiate Rosie’s Ladder, a service to support the recruitment of women firefighters.

She was an accomplished competitor at The World Police and Fire Games, winning the gold medal in body building in 1997 and again in 2007.

While on duty on August 10, 2009, Crystal’s Engine 960 was involved in a high-speed collision. Captain Rezzonico was ejected from the truck and suffered traumatic brain injuries. After relearning to walk and talk, Captain Crystal Rezzonico was able to rejoin her crew at Station 60. In 2011, she returned to the World Police and Fire Games to win the gold medal once again.

Crystal loved being a firefighter. Her passion was to serve and protect. She loved spending time with her family and traveling around the world in search of the perfect beach. One of her biggest personal accomplishments was building her own home, which was featured on the cover of Phoenix Home & Garden Magazine.

Crystal retired from the Phoenix Fire Department on December 30, 2014. She was laid to rest on February 18, 2017, as a result of her injuries. Her son Austin now serves with the Phoenix Fire Department, and Cutter’s first daughter was named Crystal.

Crystal’s spirit lives on with all those whose lives she touched and loved.