Lt. Joseph P. Graffagnino

FDNY Fire Fighter

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On September 11, 2001, eleven firefighters from Ladder 5, Engine 24, Battalion 2 in Greenwich Village perished. Joseph Graffagnino was on scheduled rotation at Brooklyn firehouse Engine 284, Ladder 149 and arrived at the World Trade Center shortly after the second tower collapsed. He was safe and eventually awarded a 9/11 Survivor's Medal, but the tragic consequences of those attacks did not end on 9/11.

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By August 18, 2007, Joey had passed the lieutenant's exam and had been rotated back to his firehouse that lost eleven men six years earlier. Much of the area at Ground Zero still had not recovered and the Deutsche Bank building at 130 Liberty Street, which was damaged when the Twin Towers fell, was undergoing asbestos removal and demolition when a fire broke out. Hidden dangers added complications to that 7 alarm blaze. Along with Robert Beddia of Staten Island, Joseph Graffagnino died fighting that fire. He was two days shy of his 34th birthday.

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Joey has received the New York City Council Proclamation Italian-American Heritage and Culture and was named Fireman of the Year by Community Board 10 in 2007. The New York City Council, Manhattan Borough President and the NYC Fire Department joined together to re-name the corner of 13th Avenue & 77th Street Firefighter Joey Graffagnino Place. Joe also received the Hero To Hero Award from the Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation on November 11, 2014.

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Joey's classmates elected him as GQ and he earned the title Mr. Fort Hamilton Lightweight Division in 1991. At the Fort now, Room B-66 is named the Joseph Graffagnino Memorial Gymnasium and the bodybuilding room is dedicated in his memory. The FHHS chapter of the National Honor Society has established the Joseph Graffagnino Profiles in Courage Scholarships to reward students for courage, commitment, teamwork, leadership, sacrifice and determination. In addition, the FHHS Body Building Competition has scholarship awards in his name to help students, in the sport he loved, who have had to overcome hardships in their young lives.

Joe earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Hunter College. He realized his dream of joining the FDNY on May 9, 1999. A few years later, Linda Tronolone became his wife and they became the parents of Mia Rose and Joseph.

When people talk of Joey they'll tell you about a man with a beautiful smile who had a great sense of humor and really enjoyed a good meal. They'll talk about a man who was quick to help friends and neighbors, a cherished son, devoted husband and loving father.

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In recent memory, no graduate of Fort Hamilton High school has sacrificed more in the line of duty to protect the people of New York City.

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It is with great pride and utmost respect to our bravest alumnus that today we add **Lieutenant Joseph P. Graffagnino** to our **Alumni Association's Hall of Fame.**