West Islip Street Renamed In Honor Of Fallen 9/11 Firefighter

WEST ISLIP, NY — A West Islip native is being remembered for his heroic sacrifice in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Firefighter Joseph R. Rivelli, Jr., was honored on Wednesday by Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter, alongside his friends and family, for the memorial street re-dedication ceremony of "Rivelli Way" in West Islip.

Rivelli, who was 43 at the time, was a member of the search-and-rescue team for FDNY Ladder Co. 25 on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, a press release stated. On September 11, 2001, he was one of the first firefighters from his unit to arrive at the World Trade Center. During rescue and evacuation efforts in the South Tower, Joseph and six others from the FDNY were on an elevator heading to the 40th floor when the building collapsed.

“We will never forget the sacrifices made by heroic men and women on that most solemn of days,” said Supervisor Carpenter. “We dedicate this road in Joseph’s honor and the memory of a man who did not back down in the face of danger, but continued to climb upwards despite it, because that is what his courage and duty demanded."

Rivelli dedicated 18 years of service to the FDNY. He had plans to retire within two years and relocate to Florida to begin a new career as a commercial airline pilot. Outside of his dedicated career as a civil servant, he coached the Inwood Buccaneers Football Team, who lovingly referred to him as “Coach Joe.”

Rivelli grew up in West Islip with his parents and three siblings, and graduated West Islip High school as part of the Class of 1976. His father Joseph R. Rivelli, Sr., stepmother Mae Vasallo, sister Donna Ambrosino and her husband Thomas, brother Michael Rivelli, and members of the West Islip Fire Department, also attended the ceremony.

His childhood dream was to become a firefighter, they said.

"When kids pass by this street corner, maybe they will ask who Joseph was, and it will be a great teaching moment for future generations,” said Carpenter.