Mourners Bid Farewell to Long Island Firefighter

Family, friends, and brother firefighters said their final goodbyes Tuesday to Joseph Sanford Jr., who died last week of injuries he sustained in the line of duty.

Hundreds filed in and out of Our Lady of Good Cousel Church in Inwood Tuesday to pay their respects to a beloved friend and fierce fireman.

A firematic memorial service was planned for Tuesday evening with thousands of firefighters expected to enter the church and salute Sanford one last time.

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Sanford’s funeral is set for Wednesday at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. A traditional fireman’s procession is planned with Nassau County Firefighters Pipes and Drums leading family, firefighters, and apparatus.

“No one better to fight, crawl down a hallway with, knowing he was in front of you or behind you, pumping that line,” Inwood Fire Chief Anthony Rivelli said, according to WABC. “Just a gutsy, gutsy, gutsy guy.”

Sanford, a former assistant fire chief and 17-year veteran of the Inwood Fire Department, responded to a house fire and, after falling through the first floor, went into cardiac arrest. He was rushed to the hospital and was listed in critical but stable condition but never regained consciousness. He was taken off a ventilator last week and passed away.

“He was loved by everyone,” said Theresa Magliaro, according to Newsday. “You could tell that from the outpouring of people that are here today…He was everyone’s best friend. It’s a shame this had to happen.”

A GoFundMe campaign was established in Sanford’s memory and, thanks to an outpouring of community support, has raised nearly $40,000 in 11 days for his family.

County Executive Ed Mangano ordered all flags flying at Nassau County buildings to fly at half staff throughout January to honor Sanford’s memory.

“It hits everybody extremely hard,” Garden City Park Fire Department Assistant Chief Mike Magas said, according to WABC. “It’s a volunteer service. Any loss, whether paid or volunteer, is tough, especially around the holidays. It’s extremely difficult on the family and his fellow firefighters.”

A dramatic tribute video was posted to YouTube Saturday by Woodmere Fire Department and had nearly 9,000 views as of Tuesday night. The video includes footage of the fire Sanford fought when he was critically injured and news clips of brother firefighters saluting him as he was transported from the hospital to the medical examiner’s office.

Photo via YouTube/Woodmere Fire Department

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