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COURIER L 12 IFE, AUGUST 6-12, 2021
Loved ones recall
Waldbaum’s fi re
BY MEAGHAN
MCGOLDRICK
More than four decades
ago, an inferno at
a Sheepshead Bay supermarket
claimed the lives
of six fi refi ghters — and
on Monday, Aug. 2, as in
years past, the fi rst responders’
friends and
families convened at St.
Brendan’s Roman Catholic
Church on Avenue O
to commemorate the occasion
and remember
those who paid the ultimate
sacrifi ce that fateful
day.
On Aug. 2, 1978, fi refi
ghters from fi ve fi re
companies headed to the
Waldbaum’s on Ocean
Avenue between Avenues
Y and Z to battle a blaze
in the summer heat. The
fi re broke out at 8:40 am
within the business,
which was undergoing
renovations at the time
but still open to shoppers.
Six fi refi ghters — William
O’Connor, George
Rice, James McManus,
James Cutillo, Harold
Hastings, and Charles
Bouton — fell to their
deaths when the roof
of the supermarket collapsed
underneath them,
and an additional 34 fi refi
ghters and one emergency
services police offi
cer were injured as they
battled back the blaze —
six of whom also plunged
into the fl ames, but were
Loved ones gather outside
St. Brendan’s on Aug. 2.
Photo by Arthur de Gaeta
rescued.
Since then, a memorial
mass has been held
at the parish on E. 13th
Street, where victims’
loved ones come together
for what they’ve likened
to a “family reunion” of
sorts. This year’s took
place at 10:30 am, according
to the church bulletin,
which said the house of
worship was “privileged
to once again be able to”
honor the fi refi ghters’
“supreme sacrifi ce.”
Retired Firefi ghter
Danny Prince, who was
assigned to Ladder 156
with O’Connor and Bouton
on the day of the fi re,
said at the 2018 memorial
at St. Brendan’s, “We
never forget, we never
leave anybody behind
and we never forget, this
is a tribute to remember
them every year.”
In 1988, the corner of
Ocean Avenue and Avenue
Z was co-named
“Fireman’s Corner.”
CUOMO
asking that James be allowed
to complete her
investigation before the
Assembly moves to impeach.
As of early Tuesday,
most had not made
statements, including
Maritza Davila, Latrice
Walker, Helene Weinstein,
and Stefani Zinerman.
Others who have
not made the call include
William Colton, Peter
Abbate, Erik Dilan, N.
Nick Perry, and Jaime
Williams.
Assemblymember Rodneyse
Bichotte Hermelyn,
who signed onto the March
letter calling for due process,
on Tuesday called on
Cuomo to resign. The pol,
who also heads the Brooklyn
Democratic Party,
made waves earlier this
year when she compared
calls for Cuomo’s resignation
to the railroading of
the Central Park Five.
Members of the State
Senate, which would hold
the governor’s trial if the
Assembly impeached
him, are also making
their thoughts known.
Senators Jabari Brisport,
Julia Salazar, and
Andrew Gounardes renewed
calls for resignation
and impeachment
Tuesday;, while Senator
Diane Savino called for
Cuomo’s resignation, but
did not call for impeachment.
Holdouts include
Senators Simcha Felder,
Roxanne Persaud, and
Kevin Parker.
Continued from page 4
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