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Anthony Varvaro, the Port Authority police officer who was killed by a wrong-way driver on his approach to the 9/11 commemoration in Manhattan, was remembered as a “household man” and “function mannequin” at this Staten Island wake on Tuesday.
Some 300 mourners waited on line on the Matthew Funeral Dwelling in Westerleigh to pay their respects to Varvaro, who was a Main League Baseball pitcher earlier than turning into a cop in his native borough.
Household, associates and throngs of Varvaro’s brothers in blue wept whereas taking a look at white poster boards adorned with photographs of the late officer taking part in baseball, posing with household and associates, and having fun with time on the seashore.
Varvaro, 37, was remembered as a “great officer” by Port Authority Police Superintendent Edward Cetnar.
“I imply there aren't any phrases you may say. We’re there for assist,” Cetnar instructed reporters exterior the funeral dwelling.
“And as a police division household [we’ll] do no matter we are able to for the household,” Cetnar stated referring to his widow Kerry and their 4 children — AJ, Johnny, Christina and Savannah.
“I couldn’t think about being on this younger girl’s place proper now with 4 younger youngsters. And we are able to always remember this younger man’s service to us,” Cetnar stated.
Varvaro was described by a lifelong household pal as a “calm and quiet” household man who was dedicated to his youngsters.
He at all times needed to grow to be an officer after pitching for six years within the majors so he might spend extra time together with his household, stated the pal, who recognized herself as Nubia.
“Regardless that we knew he at all times needed soccer or baseball, he at all times needed to be a police officer as nicely,” Nubia stated of Anthony.
“He needed to be a household man. He didn’t need to be away on a regular basis. His precedence was his youngsters,” stated Nubia. “He didn’t like being away.”
Varvaro earned a prison justice diploma at St. John’s College earlier than being known as as much as the large leagues for six years. The reduction pitcher spent most of his time with the Atlanta Braves but additionally performed ball for the Seattle Mariners and the Boston Purple Sox.
“It’s an incredible attribute to him that the place he got here from — taking part in main league baseball on the world’s greatest stage — after which his dream was to be a police officer, and he adopted that dream after dwelling his dream of being knowledgeable baseball participant,” Heart stated.
After becoming a member of the power, Varvaro gave again to the group by mentoring youngsters on the division’s youth academy.
“Not too long ago, he was one of many key instructors in our youth academy that we simply began and serving as that function mannequin for youths in the neighborhood,” Cetnar added.
Varvaro was killed close to Exit 14C of the New Jersey Turnpike round 4:25 a.m. Sunday as he made his approach to the World Commerce Heart to guard the annual solemn remembrance ceremony.
Henry Plazas, 30, of Bridgewater, NJ was additionally killed within the crash, police stated. He was allegedly driving the unsuitable method on the turnpike when he hit Varvaro head-on.
“The coincidence of this taking place on September 11 when he’s on his approach to work a safety element for paying homage to the parents we always remember — we misplaced 37 officers on that day —and he was a part of the safety element for that,” Cetnar stated.
A second wake was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon forward of a funeral Mass at Our Woman of Good Counsel Church and a burial at St. Peter’s Cemetery Thursday.
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