FIRE COMMISSIONER NICHOLAS SCOPPETTA TO ATTEND FUNERAL SERVICE FOR FIREFIGHTER GERARD BAPTISTE

39-year old firefighter killed on September 11, 2001

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta tomorrow will attend the funeral service for Firefighter Gerard Baptiste of Ladder Company 9 in Manhattan. Firefighter Baptiste was one of three members of Ladder Company 9 killed on September 11, 2001. The funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Cathedral located on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

Firefighter Baptiste is survived by his parents Gladys Rodriguez and Gerard Jean Baptiste of Manhattan; sisters Gladys Mendez and Olga Mendez, both of Manhattan; and brothers Juan Mendez of Virginia and Gary Baptiste of Paris, France. A memorial service was held in his memory on November 16, 2001.

WHO:	Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, FDNY Chief of Department Peter Hayden, other senior FDNY Officials; Family members of Firefighter Gerard Baptiste and hundreds of members of the FDNY.
WHAT:	Funeral Service for Firefighter Gerard Baptiste of Ladder Company 9
WHERE:	St. Patrick�s Cathedral 5th Avenue at East 51st Street in Manhattan
WHEN:	Wednesday September 7, 2005 at 10:00am

Contact: Francis X. Gribbon and Sethe Andrews (FDNY) (718) 999-2056

http://www.nyc.gov/fdny