That day, Lisa lost her husband and their young daughters, Nicole and Samantha, lost their father. In all, 343 me mbers of the FDNY were lost in the disaster. That shift would be Palazzo’s last, as he and 10 members of the Rescue 5 squad perished trying to save f ellow New Yorkers from the terrorist attack. He left me a voicemail, nothing special you know ‘Headed to work, I love you.’” “I was at work, so I wasn’t home when he left for his shift. Like so many stories told by the families of people lost in 9/11, Lisa Palazzo described that tragic morning as ordinary, like any other. “Jeff qualified on the new 47-foot motor lifeboat In Provincetown,” Schneider remembered, “When he came up, he would get a lot done.” Schneider allowed Palazzo to store up his time and work in Chatham for a week or more at a time. Palazzo continued to work alongside his colleagues at Station Rockaway for his weekend shifts, however, when his commanding officer, Schneider, was transferred to Station Chatham, Massachusetts, Palazzo followed. Fellow Reservist Cassano said, “Who are the members of the Coast Guard reserve in New York? Police and firefighters. Like many New York City first responders, Palazzo continued to serve as a member of the Coast Guard reserve. “He was not only passionate about his work as a rescue firefighter, but was always quick to tell you a caring story about his own family.” “He was tremendously sincere,” said firefighter John Drury of Rescue 5. In the spring of 2001, he joined Staten Island’s elite Rescue Squad 5 in Concord. Palazzo spent his first five years with FDNY in Brooklyn at Ladder Company 109. Following eight years of active duty in the Coast Guard, Palazzo joined the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) while continuing to serve in the reserves. As a Coast Guardsman, Jeff was focused on rescue through and through.” So, it came as no surprise to Bruce, in 1996, when Palazzo decided to become a New York City firefighter. In Rockaway, Palazzo served much of his time under Chief Warrant Officer 4 Bruce Schneider, who described him as “a very ambitious and smart individual. We would sleep in our uniforms in case we got a call in the middle of the night.” “Jeff had a great sense of urgency and that mentality of being ready at a second’s notice. “We heard the cries of distress in the dark and we began pulling people out of the water,” said fellow Coast Guard Reservist Chris Cassano, who credited Palazzo for saving dozens of people from the water. In June 1993, Palazzo was on the first Coast G uard boat to discover the infamous Golden Venture, a cargo ship carrying more than 200 Chinese immigrants that ran aground in Queens, New York. Palazzo was part of the crew that decommissioned the Cape Horn in 1990 and continued to serve at Rockaway. During the event, the Coast Guard saved 17 passengers from the sinking ship. These included the winter 1989 sinking of the Bronx Queen, a charter boat lost off the Rockaways in rough seas. Palazzo responded to many high-profile incidents and large-scale emergencies. Palazzo served in the Coast Guard reserves as a machinery technician aboard the cutter Cape Horn out of Station Rockaway, New York. “In the process,” Lisa explained, “he met some Coasties and the rest is history.” I was writing all his papers for him!”Īfter their sophomore year, the two attended New York City’s 4th of July celebration and Jeff helped some boaters in distress. It was clear that college wasn’t his thing. Jeff’s girlfriend and later wife Lisa said, “I saw it. “He was adopted May 1st,” Irene recalled, “so that became Jeffrey Day every year his entire life.” Irene and Anthony Palazzo adopted Jeffrey at the age of five months from the Angel Guardian Orphanage in Brooklyn. In that event, he helped some boaters who had capsized while sailing. According to his mother, Jeff’s first rescue occurred when he was the tender age of eight. Saving lives was what drew Palazzo to the Coast Guard. On September 11, 2001, Coast Guard Reservist Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffrey Palazzo was one of hundreds of New York Fire Department personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice trying to save others. Coast Guard Reserve and New York Police Department retired He was fearless, brave, and determined so when he put his mind to doing something, he would get it done.Ĭhris Cassano, U.S.
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