Firefighter Couple Expecting Baby Have Firetruck Gender Reveal

SOUTHOLD, NY — Many happy couples expecting their first baby celebrate with a gender reveal party, often with a cake baked pink or blue to let friends and family know whether they'll be welcoming a beautiful baby girl or baby boy.

But for Southold Town Fire Department members Kim Catapano and Dan Catapano, the gender reveal totally reflected their dedication to their lives of service. A firetruck made its way to the scene and the couple sprayed a hose, which soon reflected the hue of their future baby's gender — pink!

(Kim Catapano)

Kim said the couple, who is expecting their first baby on Aug. 25, both joined the fire department because they enjoy learning new skills and helping the community. Both are firefighters and she is also an EMT.

"It's important to us that we can do our best to make someone's worst day a little better," she said. "Through the department we have also made some of the best friends we could have imagined."

Last year, she said, when Daniel's Air Force search and rescue unit was deployed to Iraq, the fire department family was there to support her the entire time.

"It was no surprise to us that when we told them we were expecting that they would strive to make our reveal a special day," she said.

The idea for the fire truck reveal was our friend's, Kim explained. "They did an absolutely spectacular job making it into a day that we would never forget," she said. "We both love being members of the department and we spend a great deal of time at the firehouse. It seemed like the perfect way to celebrate our future daughter. We hope that one day she will follow our example and always strive to help others."

The video is a priceless memory, Kim said. "Not only does it show our reveal, it shows so many of our family members who came to celebrate with us. My dad Don Callahan was the one who made the video, which makes it even more special."

The happy couple also thanked their friends at the Southold Fire Department for setting everything up, including Bill Byrnes, Steve Geehreng and Michael Goscinski.