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Firefighter Joseph Mascali

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

On December 5, 2013, seven of the new FDNY Probies were either sons or brothers of firefighters lost on 9/11. One of those graduates was the son of Joseph Mascali of Rescue 5. Joseph Mascali, 44, worked in construction for years before he joined the FDNY in 1987, keeping a hand in the work with Tower East Construction, a business he co-owned with Carl Bini. He was a certified EMT first responder and a specialist in confined space and high-angle rope rescue.

In addition to his firefighter son, Mascali left behind two daughters. The annual family vacations to Lake George or Disneyland were always a highlight of his year. “People always said he was so caring about his work and so honest,” said his wife.

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged 343, 9/11, better angels, Dawn Siebel, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters, firefighters of 9/11, Joseph Mascali, LODD, Manhattan, memorial, NFFF, paintings, portraits, Rescue Five, World Trade Center, WTC | Leave a comment

Firefighter Andre Fletcher

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

Andre Fletcher’s twin brother, Zackary, is a firefighter at Engine 4 in Manhattan. Both responded to the WTC but only one made it home. Andre, assigned to Rescue 5, was scheduled to be off-duty on 9/11 but was filling in due to a manpower shortage. Given how many members of Rescue 5 rode in heavy that day though, who knows but that Andre might have jumped on the truck too.

He and his brother were both hard-driving “Type A personalities” who excelled at athletics. Years earlier Andre had left the Bronx High School of Science to go to Brooklyn Tech HS to be nearer to his brother and to be able to play sports. After joining the FDNY in 1994, they played the same position on the FDNY’s football team. Andre organized a departmental baseball team when he learned the FDNY didn’t have one.

As a side job, the brothers, 37, had dreams of capitalizing on how much they looked alike to be twin models for TV commercials. They already had an agent and a planned trip to California to make it so. Then 9/11 happened.

Andre left behind a 12-year-old son who now – more than ever – has a guardian uncle.

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged 343, 9/11, Andre Fletcher, better angels, Dawn Siebel, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters, firefighters of 9/11, LODD, Manhattan, memorial, NFFF, paintings, portraits, Rescue Five, World Trade Center, WTC | Leave a comment

Firefighter Michael Fiore

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

Michael Fiore, 46, had played on the FDNY All-Star basketball team for 17 years. This involved tournaments around the country, and sometimes abroad. Michael was known for a “hard-nosed style on the court” (sometimes involving elbows) and “an easy-going nature off the floor.” This former college athlete was the consummate team player, winning the MVP award four times for the FDNY’s Staten Island Basketball League.

In college, Fiore earned a business degree and spent the first couple years of his career as an insurance broker. He joined the FDNY in 1882 and never looked back. Decorated three times for bravery, Fiore was the father of three.

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged 343, 9/11, better angels, Dawn Siebel, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters, firefighters of 9/11, LODD, Manhattan, memorial, Michael Fiore, NFFF, paintings, portraits, Rescue Five, World Trade Center, WTC | Leave a comment

Firefighter Carl Bini

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

Carl Bini, 44, met his wife when they were 10. Ten years later they were married and a few years after that had their first, then their second daughter. Bini was a New York City firefighter for 18 years, which put him two years away from retirement. On the morning of 9/11 he was off-duty having a meeting with Joseph Mascali, another Rescue 5 firefighter with whom he had a construction business. They were meeting about a post-retirement business project.  When he heard about the attack, he phoned his wife to tell her they were on their way to respond. “Be careful,” she warned. But after 23 years of marriage, she also understood. “If I could have tied him down, he would have bitten through the ropes to go.”

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged 343, 9/11, better angels, Carl Bini, Dawn Siebel, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters, firefighters of 9/11, LODD, Manhattan, memorial, NFFF, paintings, portraits, Rescue Five, World Trade Center, WTC | Leave a comment

Firefighter John Bergin

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

Firefighter John Bergin was two weeks away from finishing the renovation and reopening the “Grand City Tavern,” the local bar he had bought with a partner. Back at home, his wife wrote that “his prized possession” was the beer tap he installed next to the backyard pool built with the help of his fellow firefighters.  He honed his cooking skills at the firehouse and brought them home. He was so good at it his wife said that she and their three kids would “starve with out him.”  Bergin did everything with his firefighter family. After 9/11, the ten widows of Rescue 5 also became close, bonding to help them through their grief.

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged 343, 9/11, better angels, Dawn Siebel, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters, firefighters of 9/11, John Bergin, LODD, Manhattan, memorial, NFFF, paintings, portraits, Rescue Five, World Trade Center, WTC | Leave a comment

Lt. Michael Russo, Sr.

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

When Lt. Michael Russo’s son, Michael Jr., had been born on his own birthday just 15 months before, he became “Mr. Mom.” He rearranged his shifts so he could take on much of the child care. This didn’t mean he stayed home with little Michael, though. He took him everywhere with him “to show him off.” Recently promoted to Lieutenant, Russo was working with Rescue 5 on 9/11.

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged 343, 9/11, better angels, Dawn Siebel, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters, firefighters of 9/11, LODD, Manhattan, memorial, Michael Russo, NFFF, paintings, portraits, Rescue Five, World Trade Center, WTC | Leave a comment

Lt. Harvey Harrell

Posted on November 1, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

Lt. Harvey Harrell, 49, was the older brother who inspired his younger brother, Stephen, to join the FDNY too. Both died at the World Trade Center.  With 22 years on the job, Harrell was still looking to improve practices, training and equipment on a daily basis. “He really lived and breathed the job,” wrote Captain John Ferry who worked with him at Rescue 5. Both Harrell and Modafferi worked as rescue divers on the wreck of TWA Flight 800 which crashed after takeoff in 1988.

Nicknamed “Buddy” by his family, he certainly was one and could always be counted on to help in any way from shoveling snow to mowing lawns. On September 11th, he was supposed to be in a fire department training in Rosebank. His family hoped he was. But he heard the news and hopped the rig before it left the station.  Had he lived, Harrell would have celebrated his 18th wedding anniversary the next week. He left behind two daughters.

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged 343, 9/11, better angels, Dawn Siebel, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters, firefighters of 9/11, Harvey Harrell, LODD, Manhattan, memorial, NFFF, paintings, Rescue Five, World Trade Center, WTC | Leave a comment

Capt. Louis Modafferi

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

Captain Louis Modafferi was awaiting assignment as a Battalion Chief, a promotion he had already earned but would not be formally presented until his funeral in October. On 9/11 he was one of five members of Rescue 5 who were supposed to be off duty but rode in to the World Trade Center anyway. “He was one of the best captains I ever worked with,” Lt. Robert Dimperio said. “The way he handled people, there was no distinction between a fireman and a chief of department. He always treated you with respect.” Modafferi was steadily promoted over an impeccable 19-year career with the FDNY. Trained in scuba rescue and handling hazardous materials, he was more than once called by FEMA for overseas rescues following hurricane devastation.

As devoted to his family as to his firefighters and his career, Modafferi left behind three children. His daughter (his “princess”) had just begun her freshman year at college the month before.

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged 343, 9/11, better angels, Dawn Siebel, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters of 9/11, LODD, Manhattan, memorial, NFFF, paintings, portraits, Rescue Five, World Trade Center, WTC | Leave a comment

Division 8, Rescue 5

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

Division 8 covers Staten Island and south Brooklyn and lost 17 of their firefighters on 9/11. Rescue 5 is based on Staten Island and has a scuba diver on its badge. Its firefighters are rescue divers in addition to their other special Rescue Unit skills.

Rescue 5 responded to the Fifth Alarm on 9/11, carrying 13 men to the WTC. The regular crew would only have been six. In addition to the 11 from Rescue 5 who responded, Lt. Michael Russo from Special Operations Command was with them as was Lt. Charles Margiotta who picked up a ride from Rescue 5 somewhere near the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.

I will begin posting the stories of Rescue 5 tomorrow.

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged Division Eight, Rescue Five | Leave a comment

Division 6

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

Yesterday’s post ends the listings of the 14 firefighters based in the Bronx who responded to and died on 9/11.  One day earlier, on September 10th, Father Mychal Judge had presided over the annual memorial mass for Ladder 42/Engine 73. This year it was also the rededication of their newly renovated quarters.

On the day before 9/11, Father Judge said, “You do what God has called you to do. You show up, you put one foot in front of the other, and you do your job, which is a mystery and a surprise. You have no idea when you get on that rig what God is calling you to do. But he needs you… so keep going,” Judge said. “You love the job. We all do. What a blessing that is.”

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged Division Six | Leave a comment