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Wallkill Valley Times, Wednesday, October 2, 2019
IN THIS ISSUE
Around the Valley. . . . . . . . . . . 22
Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Crossword. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Letters to the Editor. . . . . . . . . . 8
Montgomery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
School News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Service Directory. . . . . . . . . . . 29
Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Walden.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
9-11 hero is laid to rest
PUBLIC AGENDA
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2
Climate Smart Gardiner Task Force. 7
p.m. Town Hall, Route 44-55, Gardiner.
Town of Crawford Zoning Board of
Appeals, 7:30 p.m., Town Government
Center, 121 Route 302, Pine Bush
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3
Montgomery Town Board, 7 p.m. Town
Government Center, 110 Bracken Road,
Montgomery.
Shawangunk Town Board, 7 p.m. Town
Hall, 14 Central Ave., Wallkill
MONDAY, OCTOBER 7
Pine Bush Board of Education, 7 p.m.
District office, 156 Route 302, Pine Bush.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8
Gardiner Town Board work session. 7
p.m. Town Hall, Route 44-55, Gardiner.
HOW TO REACH US
OFFICE:
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WEBSITE
www.timescommunitypapers.com
The Wallkill Valley Times, (USPS 699-490) is a weekly
newspaper published every Wednesday at Newburgh,
NY 12550, with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court,
Newburgh, NY. Single copy: $1 at newsstand. By mail
in Orange, Ulster or Sullivan Counties: $40 annually,
$44 out of county. Periodicals permit at Newburgh, NY.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Wallkill Valley
Times, 300 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550.
Sharon MacGregor
The body of Firefighter Ricky Tanagretta is brought into the Church of the Infant Saviour, Monday, for his funeral service.
By SHARON MACGREGOR
The Fire Department of New York
motto is, “New York’s Bravest.” Richard
“Ricky” Tanagretta was indeed brave; as
a 9/11 First Responder, 26 year member
of the FDNY, past Chief and 27 year
member of the Pine Bush Volunteer
Fire Department, instructor at the New
York State as well as Orange County Fire
Academies, through repeated battles with
cancer and during his recovery from a
traumatic injury following a motorcycle
accident which resulted in the loss of one
of his legs.
Tanagretta passed away as a result
of 9/11 related cancer on September 24
and his life was commemorated in mass
on Monday, September 30 at the Infant
Savoir Catholic Church in Pine Bush
with a repast at the Pine Bush Volunteer
Firehouse. Those who knew him well
shared insight and stories about the man
simply known as Ricky.
One point that was very much driven
home during the three eulogies was
Tanagretta was simply born to teach. He
was remembered not only for teaching at
the fire academies, in addition, Sergeant
James Johnson recalled in his eulogy
that among Tanagretta’s community
volunteer experiences, he also assisted
with the Pine Bush Leadership and Law
Academy. Sgt. Johnson closed his tribute
by saying, “The honor of service is not
the service to the community itself. It is
the honor to serve with great men and
women. He was my friend. He was my
FDNY Member Ricky Tanagretta succumbed
on Sept. 24 to 9-11 related cancer.
brother.”
Tanagretta and his wife of 38 years,
Doreen, have four children; Anthony,
Michael, Lisa and Christina as well as
four grandchildren. Anthony Tanagretta
was presented with a helmet from the
FDNY at the conclusion of the funeral
mass.
The funeral procession included FDNY
Rescue 5, Town of Crawford Police, the
FDNY ceremonial unit, Pine Bush Hook
and Ladder Co. No.1, law enforcement
motorcycles and the FDNY Fire Riders.
“Losing him (Tanagretta) is a great loss
to the fire company and the community,”
said Pine Bush Fire Chief
Michael
Mataraza. He was strong willed, full of
knowledge, always willing to help teach
younger or old members new tricks.
He was innovative and always wanted
to better the fire company, whether
volunteer or paid, because all firefighters
are brothers, no matter what.”
At the Pine Bush Firehouse, Anthony
Tanagretta said, “On behalf of my entire
family, I would like to say we very much
appreciate everything everyone has done.
We couldn’t ask for a greater show of
respect for my father and the outpouring
from the community and everyone that
knew him, really makes us feel loved.
He probably would’ve thought this was
too much,” he laughed, “But it was
warranted and deserved. He was a hero
and a wonderful teacher.”
Anthony Tanagretta is presented with his
father’s FDNY helmet.