FDNY DART TEAM - Disaster Assistance Response Team

In Memory of Luis Fragoso (1954-2014)

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Luis Fragoso served as an FDNY firefighter for 18 years and was co-founder and chair of the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). The DART partnership between the Greater New York Red Cross and FDNY was formed in 1989. For nearly 25 years, Louie served as "the glue" that kept DART together, deploying its members to provide disaster relief as part of the Red Cross following countless local and national emergencies. He worked both behind the scenes and in the field, having been deployed to 24 large-scale responses including the attacks on the World Trade Center Towers on September 11, 2001. Additionally, he was honored for his dedication to our mission on numerous occasions, first as a Clara Barton Award winner in 1994 and as recently as October of last year when he and his entire DART team were recognized at the NY Red Cross Ball. He was 59 and is survived by his four children and several grandchildren. Louie will be remembered as a Friend, Brother Fire Fighter and Red Cross volunteer who worked selflessly serving those in need and always as the DART leader.

In Memory of Michael C. Mondello (1941-2013)

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After 6 days of working search and recovery at the World Trade Center site following the attacks of September 11, retired FDNY Firefighter and Disaster Assistance Response Team (D.A.R.T) member, Mike Mondello, worked tirelessly with the Red Cross to provide support to grief-stricken families of those that perished.

Michael C. Mondello of New City, NY, 72 years young, passed away peacefully accompanied by his family hand-in-hand on October 11, 2013. Mike grew up in the Bronx, NY, but was a resident of the same address in New City for 42 years. He was a highly respected man, who served in the US Navy, the FDNY, and was an active member of the FDNY Disaster Assistance Response Team. He had graciously met and left his family with an angel on earth, his wife, Caroline Mondello. Michael and Caroline have three children, Christine Mondello DiMaria, Michael Mondello Jr., and Loraine Mondello Cusumano. He left them with his strength, humor and everlasting pride. In addition, four loving grandchildren who idolized him as their hero: Toni, Nicholas, Deanna DiMaria, and Brook Cusumano. Many knew and loved Mike. He was the "rock" to many and surely will never be forgotten.

D.A.R.T. Members Who Made the Supreme Sacrifice on 9/11/01: