FDNY Foundation and New York Center for Children Honor Legacy of Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta

FDNY Foundation and New York Center for Children Honor Legacy of Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta

The FDNY Foundation and the New York Center for Children hosted the New York Center for Children’s Fall Benefit and honored the Legacy of Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta on Thurs., Oct. 26 at the New York City Fire Museum in Manhattan.

Commissioner Scoppetta passed away March 24, 2016 at the age of 83.

He was appointed by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on Jan. 1, 2002 to head the New York City Fire Department less than four months after September 11, 2001. In what was the most difficult period in the history of the Department, Commissioner Scoppetta led the FDNY through its recovery and rebuilding over the next several years.

A lifelong New Yorker, Commissioner Scoppetta was born on the Lower East Side. When he was five years old he was placed in foster care and lived in various institutions until he was twelve. He attended public schools in Manhattan. After serving two years in the Army, he attended Bradley University on the G.I. Bill and graduated in 1958 with a degree in Engineering. He attended law school at night on a New York State Regents Scholarship and worked in the criminal courts during the day assisting in the investigation and prosecution of cases in which children had been abused or neglected.

“Under his tenure as Fire Commissioner, fire safety education grew dramatically, and because of that, fire deaths dropped dramatically – which protected our most vulnerable population – our children,” said Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro. “And through charitable work, including this wonderful organization, New York Center for Children, he has helped improve the lives of so many more young people, even after his passing. It is a legacy of public service – and care for children – which is unmatched in our city.”

“Commissioner Scoppetta knew how essential the work of the FDNY Foundation was to keeping the FDNY strong and resilient,” said FDNY Foundation Board Chairman Stephen Ruzow. “The Foundation and my fellow Board Members work year-round to raise funds to promote fire and life safety in New York City, and to support the professional development, training and education of the brave men and women who make up the FDNY. We work tirelessly to support Department members’ service, to honor their bravery and to remember their sacrifices.”

Commissioner Scoppetta had a distinguished career in public service, serving for more than four decades in a number of top level management positions in city and federal government posts. Prior to joining the Department, Commissioner Scoppetta served as Commissioner for the Administration of Children’s Services under Mayor Giuliani, where he created a system for foster care and child protective services that has become a national model.

To see more photos from the evening, please click here.