3 BRONX WEEKLY September 15, 2019 www.BXTimes.com
Street co-naming planned for the heroic Lucas Silverio
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-yearold
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 hislife.
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 three-year-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 years,”
said Jesse Alvarez, Silverio’s
fi rst cousin, who is advocating
for a street mural in Lucas’ memory
Lucas Silverio’s family and friends attended the ceremony. Photo by Jewel Webber
. 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
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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.
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