Sons of fallen FDNY, NYPD first responders remember their fathers’ legacies

By Joanna Putman
FireRescue1

NEW YORK -- In remembrance of the 23rd anniversary of 9/11, two New Yorkers who lost their fathers during the attacks have followed in their footsteps, dedicating their careers to public service, CBS New York reported.

Joseph Vigiano Jr. and Thomas Gambino III, both sons of first responders who died in the World Trade Center, have drawn inspiration from their fathers’ sacrifice.

Joseph Vigiano Jr., who was just 8 years old when his father, NYPD Detective Joseph Vigiano, was killed, said his career path changed that day, according to the report.

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“At a young age, I wanted to be a paleontologist,” he told CBS New York. “But after my father’s death, my path changed.”

Now, at 31, Vigiano Jr. serves in the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit, wearing his father’s shield number.

“Everyone calls my dad a hero, but I always knew that,” Vigiano said.

Thomas Gambino III, whose father, FDNY Rescue 3 firefighter Thomas Gambino Jr., also died on 9/11, shared a similar experience, according to the report.

“My original plan was to be in a band,” Gambino told CBS. “But after seeing the brotherhood and the outpouring of support at my father’s funeral, I knew I wanted to be a part of that.”

Gambino, now 43, marks 20 years with the FDNY this year, carrying on the legacy of his father, who he describes as a devout Catholic and family man.

“To truly honor his memory would be to live today and tomorrow better than I did the day before,” Gambino said.