Street co-naming planned for the heroic Lucas Silverio
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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, SEPTEMBER 1 BTR 3-19, 2019 3
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BY STEVEN GOODSTEIN
A proposed street co-naming
will commemorate the life
of a brave teenager who lost
his life in a recent tragedy.
On Friday, August 30, it
was announced that a street
will be named in honor of the
heroic and courageous acts of
Lucas Silverio, a 19-year old
who lost his life while attempting
to save a three-year-old
girl from an apartment fi re in
June.
The Councilman Ritchie
Torres’ announcement took
place at Crotona Avenue and
Grote Street, around the corner
from where Lucas and his
family lived.
The event included renderings
of the proposed street
sign. Silverio’s family members
wore shirts commemorating
his life.
Lucas Yoaldy Silverio Mendoza
was born on November
6, 1999 at Columbia Presbyterian
Annex in Manhattan to
Dominican parents.
He attended William W.
Niles Middle School (P.S. 118),
the High School for Economics
and Finance and was studying
physical therapy at Bronx
Community College, where
he was preparing to graduate
from in December.
The tragedy occurred
on Saturday, June 8. A massive
fi re erupted in Silverio’s
apartment building at 725
Garden Street. While Lucas
was helping his grandmother
out of the building, he heard a
scream and told his cousin to
bring her downstairs. He then
attempted to save the toddler,
Yasleen McDonald.
Lucas passed away four
days later, on June 12, from
the third-degree burns he sustained.
Yasleen did not survive
her injuries.
Silverio’s grandmother,
cousin and aunt were also injured
as a result of the fi re.
“Lucas Silverio’s bravery
and heroism will never be forgetten,”
said Torres, adding,
“For Lucas, the cry of a threeyear
old girl was a call to action.”
Torres’ offi ce described
Lucas as “a model student
who was charismatic, selfl ess
and always trying to serve
others until the day he gave
his life when he tried to save
Yasleen.”
“People need to understand,
this was a humble, mature
young man with an incredible
heart who was far beyond his
3 BRONX TIMES REPORTER, SEPTEMBER 13-19, 2019 BTR
years,” said Jesse Alvarez, Silverio’s
fi rst cousin, who is advocating
for a street mural in
Lucas’ memory.
Silverio’s wake was held
at Ortiz Funeral Home in
Manhattan. The funeral and
memorial were held in Villa
Gonzalez, Dominican Republic.
The family was greeted by
hundreds of people and dozens
of fi re trucks, and all businesses
in the town were closed
that Tuesday to pay respect to
the young man.
The street naming will be
voted on by the full City Council
in December, with the sign
unveiling taking place sometime
next year, depending on
the family’s schedule.
The FDNY is still investigating
the cause of the fi re,
although it has been reported
that the fi re started between
the 14th and 16th fl oor, near
the trash compactor.
A Go Fund Me page was
created after Silverio passed
to collect funds for his family
as well as a memorial for Lucas.
As of press time, the page
has raised over $16,000. To donate,
visit www.gofundme.
com/Lucas-yoiady-Silverio.
Lucas Silverio’s family and friends attended the ceremony. Photo by Jewel Webber
/www.gofundme
/FlavorsHookKidsNYC.org
/www.gofundme
