60 FDNY Members Promoted

Catherine and Corinne Adissi (standing) are recognized by the Fire Commissioner during the ceremony. They attended the ceremony on behalf of Capt. Aldo Adissi, who is currently serving in Afghanistan.

Many described it as a ceremony - and a crowd - like no other as hundreds gathered for a fire promotions ceremony at the Fire Academy on May 31.

"Today is a good day to reflect on what it took to get here," Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano said, praising the 60 promoted members' families for helping them achieve their goals.

During the ceremony, two were promoted to the rank of assistant chief, four to deputy chief, 12 to battalion chief, 21 to captain, one to supervising fire marshal and 20 to the rank of lieutenant. Combined, the group represented nearly 1,000 years of experience.

"This day represents a new life for you in the Department," Chief of Department Edward Kilduff said. "Collectively you are a wonderful group that will help make other firefighters even better. You are the face of the FDNY."

Among the accomplished group was Capt. Aldo Adissi from Squad 61. He is currently deployed with the Air National Guard in Afghanistan, set to return in late September. His wife of 16 years, Catherine, and 9-year-old daughter, Corinne, attended the ceremony and accepted his new badge.

After receiving a standing ovation for the award, Ms. Adissi said, "The Department has done a great job making us feel special. We miss [Capt. Adissi], but this is wonderful."

Lt. Christopher Ganci, whose father died on Sept. 11, 2001, moments after his promotion with Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano and Chief of Department Edward Kilduff.

Also promoted was Battalion Chief Christopher Ritchie, who, with his father, Battalion Chief Frank Ritchie, is the first simultaneously active father and son Battalion Chiefs in FDNY history.

"I look to my father a lot," BC Christopher Ritchie said. "If I'm half the firefighter - and battalion chief - he is, then that would be great."

He added that he learned that morning he is assigned to Battalion 13, where his father works. BC Frank Ritchie, who will retire in September when he turns 65 and is currently the most senior firefighter in the FDNY, said he got the news his son was born on his first day of probationary firefighter school in 1968.

"They called me to the front of the class and said, 'You're now the proud father of a future firefighter' . Little did they know," he said with a smile.

Also promoted was Firefighter Christopher Ganci, whose father, Peter, was the FDNY's Chief of Department, killed on Sept. 11, 2001.

"This is an accomplishment, but it's bittersweet because my dad's not here," he said. He added that moving forward, "I just want to be a good firefighter, a good officer and a good representative of the FDNY."

The promoted members included:

To Assistant Chief
DAC Edward J. Baggott, ADMOP
DAC Robert Boyce, Jr., ADMFC

To Deputy Chief
BC Michael A. Gunning, B-46
BC Edward T. Ferrier, B-44
BC John J. Hodgens, B-38
BC Ciro Migliore, B-52

To Battalion Chief
Capt. Daniel P. Woods, L-83
Capt. Albert P. Petrocelli Jr., L-148
Capt. Anthony M. Saccavino, D-8
Capt. Daniel Schug, L-7
Capt. Stephen Campanella, L-20
Capt. Michael J. Fahy, D-1
Capt. Gregory J. Lehr, D-7
Capt. David M. Cane, E-83
Capt. Daniel J. Sheehan, E-228
Capt. Christopher C. Ritchie, E-21
Capt. Patrick B. Vissichelli, L-159
Capt. Michael D. Breslin, E-257

To Captain
Lt. Matthew J. Nevins, E-282
Lt. William Cutrone, L-15
Lt. James M. Montaruli, E-202
Lt. Daniel M. Tarter, B-16
Lt. Jeffrey A. Sapienza, B-10
Lt. Tate L. Hunt, L-166
Lt. Thomas V. Mooney, L-109
Lt. Patrick J. Dilena, L-31
Lt. James F. Gorman, L-24
Lt. Aldo J. Adissi, SQD-61
Lt. Lawrence J. Naddeo, L-121
Lt. Patrick J. Carew, L-15
Lt. Gary A. Weinhofer, L-102
Lt. Thomas I. Smith, L-148
Lt. John T. Zollner, E-91
Lt. Timothy Parker, E-281
Lt. Kevin M. Albert, L-140
Lt. Edward P. Burgess, E-23
Lt. Philip Pape, L-109
Lt. Michael J. Carlin, E-74
Lt. Joseph A. Sweeney, Jr., E-283

To Supervising Fire Marshal
FM Richard Giampaolo, METSEC

To Lieutenant
FF Adam J. Vilagos, E-50
FF Shawn A. Nagle, L-135
FF Francis Li, L-6
FF Joseph Eddings, E-331
FF Thomas S. Flynn, E-58
FF Samuel A. Kessler, E-152
FF Kevin P. Monahan, E-250
FF Frank R. Scaduto, L-159
FF Joseph D. Cavagnaro, L-113
FF Aaron A. Stock, L-173
FF Sean J. Farrell, E-250
FF Jesse J. Kinneary, L-124
FF Jason A. Anderson, L-77
FF Ryan D. Gorecki, E-225
FF Craig H. McDonald, L-147
FF Christopher M. Ganci, L-157
FF Matthew W. Burke, E-62
FF Carlos Guzman, E-39
FF Sean P. Murray, L-159
FF Kevin G. Hearn, L-122