CHARLES VARESE MEMORIAL HIGHWAY

Senator Carl L. Marcellino today attended the unveiling of the road sign in memory of Charles “Chuck” Varese on Route 25A in Centerport.  

Chuck was killed when a driver using drugs plowed into him on Route 25A. That same strip of road was renamed in his honor, something family members hope will serve as a warning to others on the dangers of impaired driving. 

“Chuck’s selfless acts in his service as a firefighter and community role model are a testament to his character. Men like Chuck Varese are few and far between, and his tragic death had a profound impact on all those who knew him,” said Senator. Marcellino.

Charles Varese, a seven-year veteran of the Northport Fire Department, was awarded a meritorious medal for his actions one night in the fall of 2004. Walking on Main Street, Varese smelled smoke and saw flames burning a local deli. Though he was not wearing any protective gear, Varese ran into the building and helped evacuate the upstairs apartments. 

 “Naming a section of Route 25A is a fitting memorial for a man who spent his life giving back in order  to make his community a safer and better place to live, work and raise a family. It was an honor to pass this legislation in his memory,” concluded Senator Marcellino.

The legislation to rename the road was sponsored by Senator Marcellino and Assemblyman Andrew Raia.