Grissom's Inferno

About the Book

Fate brought fifteen people together to witness a disaster. The novel follows the families through their everyday normal lives until they enter the hospital. We follow the events and conditions that led up to the scenes that these people were forced to witness. Some people migrated to this country for a better life. Some were born and raised in the shadow of Grissom Hospital The novel examines the workings of a major hospital, the everyday events and the facts that caused the disaster; it also takes into account the people who gave their lives trying to save others. They were people from other countries, those confined, visitors and those people who worked there. Much is learned there as a result of the fire and the novel and those that are now keeping them safe. The author hopes that he has contributed to the enlightenment of those people that enter the hospitals and those that are charged with keeping them safe. The claim man who handled this loss was driving home from work when he learned that Grissom Hospital was on fire over the radio. He knew that his company insured the hospital so he made a u turn and went there. He found that the sixth floor was in flames so he was there from the very beginning.

About the Author

Stephen Matava was born of immigrant parents, ten years after his parents came from Slovakia. He was raised in a Slovak neighorhood and spent most of his life in the shadow of his parent's native land. He was the fifth child and the first to graduate fom high school. The older children had to leave school to help support the family. He was raised with strict family and religious values and passed these on to his own children, He hold a degree from the University of Hartford and spent most of his life in the insurance business world. The author is married and has raised three children who have left the nest There are three grandchildren that he sees as often as possible. He learned of his ancestors from the stories that were told around the supper table and from any other material that he could find on the subject. He spent fifteen years years as a claims adjuster for a large insurance company before going into business for himself as an insurance agent. Following the family values of his forefathers has been good to him and he now finds time to write full time. Besides this nove, he ahs written a book of selected poems which will be next to be published.