The New Rochelle Fire Department today marked the one-year anniversary of the passing of Captain Andrew DiMaggio with the unveiling of a memorial at Fire Station 1 and the dedication of Rescue 4 in his memory. Captain DiMaggio passed from COVID in 2020.
Fire Chief Andrew Sandor noted that Rescue 4 was an appropriate rig to dedicate in Capt. DiMaggio’s honor, as it is used for specialized rescues: building collapses, highway/auto accidents, elevated rope rescues, and construction site trench collapses. “Captain DiMaggio was highly proficient in all of these aspects, and made sure all the members he trained- in our department and at the county level- were similarly equipped,” he said. “His spirit, his dedication, his professionalism will be kept alive as members ride Rescue 4, and pass by his memorial each day. Our members take great pride in their aggressive approach to training and their readiness in all emergency rescue aspects, including technical rescue. This will forever be a testament to Captain Andy DiMaggio.”
Capt. DiMaggio’s son James followed in his footsteps as a firefighter at Station 1 and during his remarks said how special it was to be on the same job as his dad, especially in the same firehouse. He also spoke about the effectiveness of the Fire Department as an extended family, and as part of the community the department serves.
Attending the ceremony were several members of Captain DiMaggio’s family including his wife and three sons, County Executive George Latimer, Mayor Noam Bramson, City Manager Charles B. Strome, III, Westchester County Fire Commissioner Richard Wishnie, Deputy Fire Commissioner Susan Spear, several Fire Chiefs from Westchester County career Fire Departments, and Commissioners from City Hall. Also in attendance were Peter Poulos and Gary Flynn of the New Rochelle American Legion Post 8, who presented the family with a plaque in appreciation for Capt. DiMaggio’s efforts in setting up young firefighters who were military veterans with benefits from the post-9/11 G.I. Bill.
The memorial to Captain DiMaggio will be permanently installed on the second floor of Station, where he had served as the Company Commander of Station 1. He originally joined the department in 1989. Capt. DiMaggio was also a State and County Fire instructor, training several hundred firefighters in Westchester and throughout New York State.