Lieutenant Andrew Desperito
Engine 1
Laid to Rest
on September 18, 2001
Andrew
Desperito, 43, spent three years as a New York City police officer
before becoming a firefighter 14 years ago. He stayed behind
helping victims in One World Trade Center, even after Two World
Trade Center had collapsed.
"I
always knew he was a hero," said his wife, Laura, who would
have celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary this month. "He
was incredible, and I'm drawing my strength from him."
Desperito
was a father of three and enjoyed coaching his 10-year-old son's
soccer team in the East Patchogue, N.Y., area where they lived.
Laura
Desperito said she has learned her husband was on the 23rd floor
of One World Trade Center when he and the men he was with heard
a roar and were told over their radios that the other building
had come down.
The
men headed outside, but Desperito said she has been told by
her husband's team that he stopped and ordered them ahead after
coming across a woman having trouble making her escape. He had
just exited when the building collapsed.
"He
was too close," his wife said.
Desperito's
body was among the first recovered last week, Laura Desperito
said, and a wake was held for him Sunday.
Desperito
said she had been planning the family's future, including renovations
to their home. Now she is deciding where to bury her husband.
"There's
a cemetery here, where through the trees you can see where the
children play soccer," she said. "He can hear them
and he'll be happy."
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