Commack – Supervisor
Chad A. Lupinacci and Councilman Mark Cuthbertson were joined by officials from
the Town, State, County, FDNY, Commack Fire Department, the New York City Fire
Museum, and family and friends of Walter F. Malone to dedicate Calvert Avenue
as FDNY Lt. Walter F. Malone Way on Saturday, June 29.
Supervisor
Chad A. Lupinacci stated: “Today the Town dedicated Calvert Avenue in Commack
as FDNY Lt. Walter F. Malone Way after the retired first responder and veteran
who we lost in 2017. Walter lost his long battle with respiratory illness from
his time serving at Ground Zero in the months after 9/11. His grandson Sean
reached out to my office on September 11th of last year to inquire about
honoring his grandfather, who was a Commack resident, and his service to this
nation. We had Walter's family, friends, service brothers from the FDNY and the
Commack Fire Department, John Feal, the NYC Fire Museum, local elected
officials and community members join us -- a beautiful outpouring of support
for today's unveiling recognizing this local hero. Watch as we officially
unveil the sign dedicating Calvert Avenue "FDNY Lt. Walter F. Malone
Way."
Councilman
Mark Cuthbertson spoke about Malone’s willingness to step out of his comfort
zone to serve his fellow man, “Clearly Walter was someone who would step out of
his comfort zone for others, and he demonstrated that when he went to the
grounds of 9/11. We recognize him, but we also recognize that the fight isn’t
done for 9-11 victims.”
Councilman
Ed Smyth, who co-sponsored the resolution to rename the street after Lt. Malone
with Supervisor Lupinacci, regretfully was unable to attend the ceremony but
stated: “I was honored to co-sponsor the dedication of Calvert Avenue at FDNY
Lt. Walter F. Malone along with Supervisor Lupinacci. Lieutenant Malone was a
fallen hero and the Town of Huntington is proud to dedicate Calvert Avenue so
his memory will live on.”
Supervisor
Chad A. Lupinacci and Councilman Mark Cuthbertson were joined by Receiver of
Taxes Jillian Guthman; Deputy Town Clerk Stacy Colamussi, representing Town
Clerk Jo-Ann Raia; Stephen Jimenez, representing Highway Superintendent Kevin
S. Orelli; Senator James Gaughran; Assemblymen Andrew Raia and Steve Stern;
County Comptroller John Kennedy; County Legislators Susan Berland and Leslie
Kennedy; John Feal of the FealGood Foundation, Captain Mark Guerra and Walter’s
service brothers from FDNY Engine 214 and FDNY Rescue 2; retired FDNY friends
from his Brooklyn breakfast group; Chief of Department Bobby Wilkins, John Minton
and members of the Commack Fire Department; Gary Urbanowicz of the New York
City Fire Museum; and family and friends of FDNY Lt. Walter F. Malone.
Family of
Walter F. Malone present for the ceremony included the Malone family; the Duda
family and the Barile family; Walter’s children, Michael, Colleen and Mary; his
ten grandchildren, including Sean Malone, who initiated the street dedication
by reaching out to Supervisor Lupinacci's office on September 11, 2018; and
Walter’s 8 great-grandchildren. Deacon Lou from Christ the King Church in
Commack delivered the invocation and blessing of the street sign.
The street
dedication, with fire trucks from the Commack Fire Department on-site, was held
at the corner of Calvert Avenue and Sheldon Place in Commack, where the Malone
family home is located.
Prior to
joining the FDNY, Walter Malone served as a Corporal in the United States Army
serving from 1952 to 1956 during the Korean War.
Walter
began his firefighting career in 1960 when he joined FDNY Rescue Company 2 in
Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, promoted to Lieutenant in 1978 with Engine
Company 214. He served for 34 years with the Department, retiring at the age of
57 in 1991.
After his
retirement, Walter traveled from his home in Commack every Wednesday to serve
as a docent at the Fire Museum in Manhattan from 2002 until his health took a
turn for the worse. “Wally Wednesdays" became legendary. People from all
over the world kept in touch with Wally through the Museum.
On
September 11th, 2001, Lieutenant Walter Malone came out of his 10-year
retirement to help his longtime friend Captain John Vigiano, also a member of
FDNY. Captain Vigiano lost his 2 sons on that fateful day; one a member of the
FDNY and the other a member of the NYPD.
At the age
of 67, Walter Malone returned to his fire department family out love for his
dear friend and his dedication to service and to community. Every day for two
months, Walter searched for his dear friend’s lost sons, fallen brethren and
civilian casualties of the 9/11 World Trade Center Attacks.
FDNY
Lieutenant Walter F. Malone tragically lost his long battle with 9/11-related
respiratory illness on August 31, 2017.
In
September 2017, just weeks after Wally's passing, Scottish artist Alexander
Millar offered to create a special New York fire-themed series of paintings to
raise money for the Museum. The artist’s portrait of Lt. Malone hangs
prominently at the Museum today.
At its
November 20, 2018 meeting, the Town Board dedicated Calvert Avenue in Commack
as FDNY Lieutenant Walter F. Malone Way.
[VIDEO: http://huntingtonny.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=4&clip_id=1871]
Photos
from the ceremony attached.
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