SeaBreeze
07-08-2002, 03:16 PM
Heroic fireman remembered at St. Roch’s Church service
by David Greene
A heroic firefighter, who had been remembered during a November memorial service, was laid to rest after his body was finally recovered from the rubble of what was the World Trade Center.
An estimated 500 hundred mourners, including 100 firemen and several dozen police officers, along with a hundreds of friends and community members, paid homage to fireman Angel Juarbe, Jr.
Juarbe, a man with everything to live for, was honored with a funeral held on Saturday, December 1, at St. Roch’s Church, located at 525 Wales Avenue at E. 149th Street.
With giant American flags covering the pulpit, Father Francisco Siguenza told mourners, "We wish to express our deepest and sincere sympathy to the family of our departed brother."
The priest continued, "Death, my brothers and sisters, brings us face-to-face with the deepest realities of life that we face."
The bilingual service for Juarbe, of Ladder Company 12 in Chelsea, culminated after an intense wait, as his body was eventually recovered.
Juarbe, 35, was born and raised in the Bronx and was a graduate of Dewitt Clinton High School. He had joined the New York City Fire Department eight years ago, but despite recent changes in his life, Juarbe had not changed.
A moonlighting model, Juarbe had recently been a contestant on the Fox reality show "Murder In A Small Town X," and had solved the murder, winning a new car as well as the $250,000 prize.
Despite every reason to live, the heroic fireman had finished his shift but decided to answer one last call at the Twin Towers, which would eventually take his life and the lives of four of his fellow firefighters of Ladder 12.
After the funeral, his uncle, Manny Gonzalez, recalled, "He recently appeared in Small Town X and won the contest."
Gonzalez continued, "The family was going to celebrate when the 911 call came, but he answered the call and he was one of the firemen to enter the World Trade Center." A memorial service was held in November because two months after the unthinkable disaster, his body had still not been recovered.
Gonzalez added that Juarbe’s body was eventually discovered on Tuesday, November 27. Gonzalez stated that a 2002 calendar with Juarbe’s picture was canceled after the September 11 tragedy, but he had modeled for several magazines in the past.
Gonzalez concluded, "He was a good kid who played football with the youngsters on the block. He was adventurous and on his way up with a lot to look forward to." Pictures of Juarbe in his firefighter uniform and published modeling photos graced the entrance of the church.
As 100 firefighters jammed the first 10 rows of the church, about three dozen firemen and a dozen police waited outside, as Wales Avenue was closed to traffic at E. 147th Street. No eulogy was given as Juarbe was eulogized during the recent memorial service.
A fire engine brought Juarbe’s body to the church, but he would leave in a hearse for the ride to Woodlawn Cemetery, where he would be cremated. Outside the church his mother and father were seen simultaneously wiping the tears from their eyes.
The somber crowd walked out of the church and followed the hearse down Wales Avenue, as the crowd headed to the next block and mingled and consoled one another in front of Juarbe’s home, where most of his family still lives. Friends and family members were seen crying and hugging one another as they shared stories of the young hero.
Firefighter Tom O’Donoghue of Queens, a member of Engine 3 who worked side-by-side with Ladder 12 as part of Battalion 12, stated his heartfelt pain. "Angel was a good friend of mine; a very special guy," as he described how a young woman once spontaneously walked up to the handsome firefighter and told him, "You know something, you sparkle."
A member of the firehouse at W. 19th Street and 7th Avenue, Ladder 12 is known as "The Dirty Dozen."
According to O’Donoghue, Juarbe was selected to appear in Small Town X, which began filming in March, and continued through April. Due to contractual demands, Juarbe could not tell anyone that he won until the program aired in July.
O’Donoghue explained, "He couldn’t share it with us so we kept grilling him, but he couldn’t breathe a word." The night he won he was working in the firehouse and O’Donoghue continued, "It was beautiful when he won; we were so excited for him." Sadly, the final program aired just two weeks before September 11.
O’Donoghue added that Juarbe’s body would never have been found if the city had abandoned its efforts to continue the recovery effort.
Recalling how the entire city was affected by September’s terrorist attacks, O’Donoghue added, "No one escaped this; there is just so much emotion involved. The honor of our members is at stake and we want to make sure it’s preserved." He recalled his drive over the Throgs Neck Bridge and seeing a plane dive into the World Trade Center.
Juarbe’s brother Charlie, a transit police officer, later said, "He was a fun person, a leader... he was intelligent; just a real sweetheart." Recalling September 11, Charlie stated, "He was on the phone with his command and the alarm went off. He jumped on the truck and just went... that was it."
Charlie added that the family cremated the hero’s body and would spread the ashes over the Adirondacks because "He always wanted to be set free with the eagles."
Besides leaving behind his heartbroken parents Miriam, and Angel, and brother, Charlie, he also leaves behind a sister, Susan, a Bronx court officer; sister Jessica Cruz, an employee of Cablevision; another brother Edgar, an officer at the nearby 42nd Precinct; as well as a cousin, Vanessa, also a police officer at the 50th Precinct.
http://www.bxtimes.com/News/2001/1206/Boroughwide_News/026.html
A photo of firefighter Angel Juarbe, Jr., graced the entrance to his neighborhood church.
by David Greene
A heroic firefighter, who had been remembered during a November memorial service, was laid to rest after his body was finally recovered from the rubble of what was the World Trade Center.
An estimated 500 hundred mourners, including 100 firemen and several dozen police officers, along with a hundreds of friends and community members, paid homage to fireman Angel Juarbe, Jr.
Juarbe, a man with everything to live for, was honored with a funeral held on Saturday, December 1, at St. Roch’s Church, located at 525 Wales Avenue at E. 149th Street.
With giant American flags covering the pulpit, Father Francisco Siguenza told mourners, "We wish to express our deepest and sincere sympathy to the family of our departed brother."
The priest continued, "Death, my brothers and sisters, brings us face-to-face with the deepest realities of life that we face."
The bilingual service for Juarbe, of Ladder Company 12 in Chelsea, culminated after an intense wait, as his body was eventually recovered.
Juarbe, 35, was born and raised in the Bronx and was a graduate of Dewitt Clinton High School. He had joined the New York City Fire Department eight years ago, but despite recent changes in his life, Juarbe had not changed.
A moonlighting model, Juarbe had recently been a contestant on the Fox reality show "Murder In A Small Town X," and had solved the murder, winning a new car as well as the $250,000 prize.
Despite every reason to live, the heroic fireman had finished his shift but decided to answer one last call at the Twin Towers, which would eventually take his life and the lives of four of his fellow firefighters of Ladder 12.
After the funeral, his uncle, Manny Gonzalez, recalled, "He recently appeared in Small Town X and won the contest."
Gonzalez continued, "The family was going to celebrate when the 911 call came, but he answered the call and he was one of the firemen to enter the World Trade Center." A memorial service was held in November because two months after the unthinkable disaster, his body had still not been recovered.
Gonzalez added that Juarbe’s body was eventually discovered on Tuesday, November 27. Gonzalez stated that a 2002 calendar with Juarbe’s picture was canceled after the September 11 tragedy, but he had modeled for several magazines in the past.
Gonzalez concluded, "He was a good kid who played football with the youngsters on the block. He was adventurous and on his way up with a lot to look forward to." Pictures of Juarbe in his firefighter uniform and published modeling photos graced the entrance of the church.
As 100 firefighters jammed the first 10 rows of the church, about three dozen firemen and a dozen police waited outside, as Wales Avenue was closed to traffic at E. 147th Street. No eulogy was given as Juarbe was eulogized during the recent memorial service.
A fire engine brought Juarbe’s body to the church, but he would leave in a hearse for the ride to Woodlawn Cemetery, where he would be cremated. Outside the church his mother and father were seen simultaneously wiping the tears from their eyes.
The somber crowd walked out of the church and followed the hearse down Wales Avenue, as the crowd headed to the next block and mingled and consoled one another in front of Juarbe’s home, where most of his family still lives. Friends and family members were seen crying and hugging one another as they shared stories of the young hero.
Firefighter Tom O’Donoghue of Queens, a member of Engine 3 who worked side-by-side with Ladder 12 as part of Battalion 12, stated his heartfelt pain. "Angel was a good friend of mine; a very special guy," as he described how a young woman once spontaneously walked up to the handsome firefighter and told him, "You know something, you sparkle."
A member of the firehouse at W. 19th Street and 7th Avenue, Ladder 12 is known as "The Dirty Dozen."
According to O’Donoghue, Juarbe was selected to appear in Small Town X, which began filming in March, and continued through April. Due to contractual demands, Juarbe could not tell anyone that he won until the program aired in July.
O’Donoghue explained, "He couldn’t share it with us so we kept grilling him, but he couldn’t breathe a word." The night he won he was working in the firehouse and O’Donoghue continued, "It was beautiful when he won; we were so excited for him." Sadly, the final program aired just two weeks before September 11.
O’Donoghue added that Juarbe’s body would never have been found if the city had abandoned its efforts to continue the recovery effort.
Recalling how the entire city was affected by September’s terrorist attacks, O’Donoghue added, "No one escaped this; there is just so much emotion involved. The honor of our members is at stake and we want to make sure it’s preserved." He recalled his drive over the Throgs Neck Bridge and seeing a plane dive into the World Trade Center.
Juarbe’s brother Charlie, a transit police officer, later said, "He was a fun person, a leader... he was intelligent; just a real sweetheart." Recalling September 11, Charlie stated, "He was on the phone with his command and the alarm went off. He jumped on the truck and just went... that was it."
Charlie added that the family cremated the hero’s body and would spread the ashes over the Adirondacks because "He always wanted to be set free with the eagles."
Besides leaving behind his heartbroken parents Miriam, and Angel, and brother, Charlie, he also leaves behind a sister, Susan, a Bronx court officer; sister Jessica Cruz, an employee of Cablevision; another brother Edgar, an officer at the nearby 42nd Precinct; as well as a cousin, Vanessa, also a police officer at the 50th Precinct.
http://www.bxtimes.com/News/2001/1206/Boroughwide_News/026.html
A photo of firefighter Angel Juarbe, Jr., graced the entrance to his neighborhood church.