Senator Lee Zeldin & Assemblyman Dean Murray Honor Fallen Local FDNY Hero

Farmingville, N.Y. – State Senator Lee M. Zeldin (R, C, I- Shirley) and Assemblyman Dean Murray (R, C- East Patchogue) honored fallen local FDNY hero, Lieutenant Richard Nappi, this past Saturday, October 13, 2012, by dedicating the North Ocean Ave Bridge over the Long Island Expressway as the FDNY Lt Richard Nappi Memorial Bridge during a ceremony at the Farmingville Fire Department. Lt. Nappi, who was also a volunteer with the Farmingville Fire Department and a top instructor at the Suffolk County Fire Academy in Yaphank, is survived by his wife Mary Anne, his daughter Catherine, and son Nicholas. In 1995, he was honored as a hero for pulling his fellow firefighters out of danger during the height of the Long Island wildfires. He also selflessly raced to lower Manhattan on his day off to provide emergency assistance following the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center on September, 11, 2001. Lt. Nappi passed away on April 16, 2012, after suffering a heart attack while leading his fellow firefighters from Engine 237 through a burning warehouse in Brooklyn. Senator Zeldin and Assemblyman Murray were successful in sponsoring legislation in the State Legislature this year to honor this local hero by designating the bridge as the “FDNY Lt. Richard Nappi Memorial Bridge.” The bill was signed into law by Governor Cuomo on June 20, 2012, after passing both the Senate and the Assembly. Senator Zeldin and Assemblyman Murray are pictured here with members of the Nappi family and Farmingville Fire Department as they unveil the new sign which can be seen along the LIE.