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September 10, 2006
I remember Lt. Charles William Garbarini
This entry is part of the 2,996 project, which honors the victims of 9/11 on the fifth anniversary of the attack. If any of the information is incorrect or in need of editing, please leave a comment or write me and let me know.
The city of New York lost 343 firefighters on September 11, 2001, and Lt. Charles William Garbarini was one of them. Just 44 years old, Charley left behind a wife and two young sons, as well as a legacy as a sweet, fun-loving man who loved his family and his job and brought much joy to all who knew him.
Born in the middle of nine children, Charley was the boisterous center of a boisterous family. As a child, he would dance on the coffee table to make his siblings laugh, and often tricked his sisters into doing the dishes for him. He and his future wife, Andrea DeGeorge, both attended Cardinal Spellman High School in the Bronx. After a decade-long engagement, they eventually made their home in Pleasantville, NY, and had two boys, Dylan and Phillip. There’s was a love affair that spanned over twenty years. Charley still surprised his wife with flowers now and then, perhaps to make up for the gentle teasing she endured from her wisecracking husband.
Charley became a firefighter in 1986. Nick-named “The Comedian”, his business card read “Firefighter Charley Garbarini. You light ‘em, we fight ‘em.” Battalion 9, Unit 3 was one of the first teams to arrive on the scene on the morning of September 11th. His truck, Engine 23, lost five other men that day as they rushed into the Towers to aid others even without fully knowing the magnitude of what had happened. Communications that day were spotty, with cell phones down and chaos reigning, but Charley and his fellow firefighters remained calm and professional and did what they had been trained to do: rescue people. Less than two hours after the first plane hit the South Tower it collapsed, taking down with it the very people who had first arrived to help those trapped and in peril.
A memorial service for Lt.Garbarini was held on October 6th, 2001, which was led by a bagpipe procession and attended by hundreds fellow firefighters, EMTs and police officers. Friends who attended said that although there were many tears, there was also a lot of laughter as they shared stories and celebrated Charley’s life. “Charley wouldn’t have wanted it any other way,” remarked one friend.
Charley’s vibrant presence lives on in the hearts of his many friends and family members. A charity golf event is held in his honor by the Milltown Fire Department every year in New Jersey. And Engine 23 was recently refurbished as a training rig, with Charley’s and the five other fallen firefighters’ names proudly displayed on a plaque on the side. I hope by sharing a little of Lt. Charles William Garbarini’s life, he will remain in your memory as he will in mine. Love and sorrow to his wife and to his boys. It was an honor to get to know your big-hearted Charley.
Posted by Max at September 10, 2006 11:19 PM
Comments
Your tribute was so touching. This project has been very hard for me, but I am so glad I was able to be a part of it. I was an active Army soldier that day, as was my huaband, who still is. 5 years later, and it still affects our lives on a daily basis, as he is now deployed to Afghanistan, a place he would never have been otherwise. And it is bittersweet, too. I lost so many friends and colleagues that day and in the years since because of it, but it is also my eldest son's birthday and that is cause to celebrate life and strength. I have had the honor to memorialize Teresa Martin.
Posted by: Kiki at September 11, 2006 06:25 AM
Fantastic tribute. He sounded like such a wonderful person. You did a good job bringing him to life for us.
My tribute is for Robert J. DeAngelis.
Posted by: Robin at September 11, 2006 11:05 AM
He sounds like a guy that would've been fun to hang out with. Thank you for honoring him.
I pay tribute to Lt. Col. Johnson today.
Posted by: carmen at September 11, 2006 12:29 PM
I have been reading tributes for much of my morning. I don't know why but I feel compelled to get to know as many of the victims as I can. Thank you for sharing Charles' life with us.
Posted by: Shelly at September 11, 2006 12:52 PM
I love that business card, you can tell so much about him from that! So much loss.
I Remember Anna Williams Allison
Posted by: Jen at September 11, 2006 01:43 PM
It's such an honor to be part of this circle of remembrance. Thank you.
Tribute to Christopher Paul Slattery
Posted by: Pentha at September 11, 2006 02:29 PM
That was a wonderful tribute to one of the brave heroes of that day. From your words it sounds only fitting that the man died a hero. His business card kills me, he must have been quite a character!
Posted by: Babaloo at September 11, 2006 03:38 PM
So young with so much more life to live. Sad.
Thank you.
Posted by: Pastormac's Ann at September 11, 2006 11:43 PM
Thank you for sharing this wonderful tribute for a special human being. I know he will be missed and loved by his family, friends, and co-workers. Your tribute was very touching and it makes me sad and angry that we have lost so many people on 9/11.
Thanks also for visiting my tribute. I invite your readers to view my special tribute to Cynthia Motus Wilson who died when the WTC Tower 1 fell.
Posted by: motherkitty at September 12, 2006 12:14 AM
This is beautiful. We lost so many wonderful souls that day...so much laughter.
Posted by: Flag Gazer at September 12, 2006 01:05 AM
What a wonderful tribute to a fun loving kind of guy.
I remember Sheila Hein
Posted by: mel at September 13, 2006 03:28 PM