South
Huntington Resident Lost His Battle with 9/11-Related Brain Cancer in May
South Huntington – Supervisor Chad
A. Lupinacci, Councilman Mark Cuthbertson, Councilwoman Joan Cergol, Councilman
Ed Smyth, Highway Superintendent Kevin S. Orelli and Tax Receiver Jillian Guthman
were joined by Senator Carl L. Marcellino, Legislator William Spencer,
Legislator Tom Donnelly, NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Benjamin B. Tucker,
Commanding Officer Captain William E. Glynn of the NYPD’s 94th Precinct,
officers from the 94th Precinct, family, friends and former colleagues of
retired NYPD Officer Mark J. Natale, for a street dedication ceremony taking
place in Officer Natale’s honor on what would have been his 56th birthday,
Friday, September 14.
The ceremony opened with the
presentation of the colors by the NYPD Honor Guard, followed by NYPD Police
Officer Makiah Brown, who sang the National Anthem, and NYPD Chaplain Deputy
Chief Monsignor David Cassato, who delivered the invocation.
“Not only are we gathered here to
honor Officer Mark J. Natale on what would have been his 56th birthday, exactly
one week ago was Mayra and Mark’s 27th wedding anniversary,” said Supervisor
Lupinacci, who went on to explain how Officer Natale’s colleagues and community
came together to honor his memory: “Friends and former colleagues contributed
pieces of police uniform apparel so that retired Officer Natale would be buried
in dress uniform; the South Huntington School District lowered their flags to
half-staff district-wide, issued a service award posthumously and inducted
Mark, a district employee during his retirement from the NYPD, into their Hall
of Fame; while comments came pouring in on the Town's social media channels
upon hearing news of this street dedication, with beautiful praise for Mark as a
wonderful person, a gentleman, and words of comfort for the Natale family.”
“We as a nation have not spent
enough time honoring and remembering the people who in the aftermath of 9/11
went into harm’s way to do their job, and ultimately paid the same supreme
sacrifice with their lives as those who perished that day. Today we proudly
recognize Officer Mark Natale as a hero,” stated Councilman Cuthbertson.
“9-11, as we are reminded more and
more each day, is the tragedy that keeps on taking. 23 NYPD Officers were
killed that day, and in the 17 years since then, nearly eight times as many,
156, have died from 9-11 related illnesses. We share in the Natale family’s
grief and hope they will take comfort and pride each time they pass this street
sign that is our way of making sure Mark’s service, heroism and sacrifice is
held high for all to know and never be forgotten,” stated Councilwoman Cergol.
“I was proud and honored to be part
of the street dedication for New York City Police Officer Mark J. Natale, a
Huntington native and 9/11 hero whose memory will always live on,” said
Councilman Smyth.
“NYPD Officer Mark J. Natale
represents the best of humanity on a day we witnessed the worst. He is a hero,
sacrificing his life protecting strangers. For the family, no words can ease
their pain but we want them to know through this small gesture that they have
the unending support of all of us,” said Senator Marcellino.
“As we mark the 17th anniversary of
the horrific events of September 11, 2001, it is important to continue to
recall not only those who perished on that day, but also to remember the uniformed
and non-uniformed responders who answered the call to help. These individuals
assisted in rescue and recovery efforts in the days, weeks and months that
followed and, sadly as a result, many suffered from 9/11 cancers and other
illnesses and lost their lives,” said Legislator Donnelly. “With this street
renaming, NYPD Officer Mark J. Natale will never be forgotten for his selfless
dedication, hopefully providing some comfort for his family.”
“It was a true privilege to join the
late NYPD Officer Mark J. Natale’s family and the community for his street sign
dedication. The words expressed by his wife Mayra, captured Mark’s service and
heroism. His courageous battle serves as inspiration to those heroes who
continue to struggle with 9/11 related illnesses every day. The awareness that
Mark has brought to this issue will help ensure that our heroes receive the
best possible care in the future,” stated Legislator Spencer.
“It was my honor to join the Natale
family, friends, elected officials, neighbors and members of the 94 Precinct
for the dedication of Iceland Drive in the name of NYPD officer Mark J. Natale,
as a permanent memorial of Marks’ bravery and sacrifice,” said NYPD First
Deputy Commissioner Benjamin B. Tucker.
Mayra Natale, Officer Natale’s
widow, delivered a moving speech to close the ceremony with their children
Dominick, Catherine and Lauren standing behind her, along with Officer Natale’s
sisters Denise Pileggi, Debra Diem, and extended family, thanking everyone
involved in honoring her husband’s memory, from the Town, and South Huntington
School district officials to the NYPD and members of the Huntington community
who came together to ease the burdens her husband and their family faced
throughout his struggle with cancers related to his serving at Ground Zero.
Following the ceremony, Officer
Natale’s family hosted a gathering on Iceland Drive celebrating his life.
NYPD Officer Mark J. Natale helped
frightened and dust-covered people fleeing the devastation over bridges to
Brooklyn and onto ferries to New Jersey following the terror attacks on the
World Trade Center. He also stood guard at the gates around Ground Zero in the
days that followed and worked in lower Manhattan for several months. Officer
Natale tragically lost his long battle with 9/11-related brain cancer at his
South Huntington home on May 4, 2018.
Iceland Drive in South Huntington
was officially dedicated “NYPD Officer Mark J. Natale Way” in a resolution at
the June 19 Town Board Meeting.
In the photo (1, l-r): Commanding
Officer Captain William E. Glynn of the NYPD’s 94th Precinct; NYPD First Deputy
Commissioner Benjamin B. Tucker; Senator Carl L. Marcellino; Councilman Mark
Cuthbertson; Councilwoman Joan Cergol; Councilman Edmund J.M. Smyth; Mayra
Natale; Lauren Natale; Catherine Natale; Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci.
In the photo (2): Mayra Natale
(speaking at podium); (l-r): Commanding Officer Captain William E. Glynn of the
NYPD’s 94th Precinct; NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Benjamin B. Tucker;
Legislator Tom Donnelly; Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci; Councilwoman Joan
Cergol; Legislator Carl L. Marcellino; Councilman Mark Cuthbertson; Councilman
Edmund J.M. Smyth; Highway Superintendent Kevin S. Orelli; Legislator William
Spencer; Tax Receiver Jillian Guthman; Dominick Natale; Catherine Natale;
Lauren Natale; Aida Sosa, mother of Mayra Natale.
In the photo (3): (back row, 4th in
from left) NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Benjamin B. Tucker; members of the
94th Precinct of the NYPD; (front center) Aida Sosa, Catherine Natale; Dominick
Natale; Mayra Natale; Lauren Natale; Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci.
In the photo (4): NYPD Officers from
the 94th Precinct.
In the photo (5): NYPD Officer Mark
J. Natale Way / Iceland Drive street sign.
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