TRENTON — Fallen Trenton Firefighter Manny Rivera Sr. was laid to final rest yesterday after thousands of fellow firefighters came from as far away as New York City and Philadelphia to pay their final respects.

Rivera, 42, died March 31 from injuries he suffered Feb. 9 while rescuing a city man from a burning city home. Rivera was awarded posthumously for his valor of giving his life to save a life, according to funeral officials.

A 14-year veteran of the Trenton Fire Department, Rivera is survived by his wife and five children. Up to 5,000 people came to the capital city for Rivera’s funeral Mass yesterday at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

Bishop John M. Smith said Rivera “laid down his life to rescue somebody he did not know in his service as a fireman in the wonderful city of Trenton.”

Monsignor John Dermond served as the main celebrant officiating the service. Dermond mentioned the Mass of Recovery that was held at St. Mary’s on Feb. 13 to pray for Rivera’s return to good health. “Instead, God called Manny home,” he said.

“When we die, it is not the end, but rather the entrance to a new eternal life,” Dermond said.

Dermond said Rivera “went into a valley of darkness” on the night of Feb. 9, when Rivera saved the life of a man, Jonathan Guttierez Aguero, who was hanging from the window of a burning house at 112 Washington St.

Dermond said the city of Trenton is also in a valley of darkness following death of Rivera, but he called on Rivera’s mourners to move forward with strength, “live courageously” and “without fear.”

Trenton Police Sgt. Benito Bello, Rivera’s brother-in-law, gave the concelebrated Mass eulogy, which he said was his “hardest assignment” in his 16 years of police service.

“Manny was the kind of person who would help anybody without hesitation,” Bello said. “Qui-que, you left us as a hero — you left doing what you love to do,” Bello added, referring to Rivera by his nickname.

Bello said Rivera was the first firefighter in his family, “possibly starting a tradition. Manny’s son, Steven (14 years old), is interested in his footsteps.”

A huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan, “He left us knowing his Steelers were Super Bowl champs,” Bello said.

Retired Engine 3 Capt. Paul Tweedly, who served with Rivera, also spoke during the the funeral Mass. Tweedly talked about classic memories he has of Rivera, including a time when Rivera “burned rice one night.”

Tweedly talked about Rivera’s commanding presence, saying his crew used to call Rivera “The Mayor,” apologizing to Mayor Doug Palmer in advance before making the statement. “I would like to say ‘Goodbye, old friend ... you’ll always be loved,’” Tweedly concluded.

David Chiacchio of the Southview Funeral Home said between 4,000 and 5,000 people showed up for Rivera’s funeral Mass. St. Mary’s was filled to capacity and hundreds more stood outside and listened to the funeral Mass courtesy of the outdoor speaker setup.

Rivera was dressed in his firefighter uniform, and “He looked marvelous,” Chiacchio said. The news media wasn’t allowed to enter the cathedral during the Mass.

A firefighter honor guard saluted Rivera as other city firefighters lifted Rivera’s American-flag draped casket out of St. Mary’s Cathedral and propped it on a city fire engine. Meanwhile, firefighter pipe bands were performing.

Police officers in motorcycles then led off a procession down South Warren Street to Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery in Hamilton.

A long line of city fire engines — and fire engines from multiple surrounding towns — Followed behind the fire engine that carried Rivera’s body to the cemetery. Rivera’s family members were riding close behind their fallen loved one in limousines.

On the side window of Engine 3 were signs that read “Te Queremos Manny” and “Forever in our hearts.”

Engine 3 rang its last call bell for Rivera at the cemetery. Hundreds packed the cemetery, with mourner after mourner placing flowers on top of Rivera’s casket. Several Trenton firefighters took off their white gloves and placed them on top of Rivera’s casket.

Rivera was born and raised in Trenton, often playing basketball with his childhood “bubble bunch” friends.

One of the those close childhood friends is Trenton Firefighter Juan Rivera III. “We’ve known each other since we were 7, 8 years old,” Juan Rivera said at the cemetery. “You could almost say we were related.”

Manny and his bubble bunch pal Juan played softball together for many years, most recent being last summer for the Roberto Clemente Softball League. They both pursued a career in fighting fires.

“Rescue — we do it all the time,” Juan Rivera said. “Manny didn’t hesitate. That’s how many was.”

Wayne Wolk, president of Trenton’s firefighters union, said, “We had a lot of good times with Manny. He’s a member of our family. He’s gonna be surely missed. The guys are still in shock right now.

“We still have to work,” Wolk added. “We still have a job to do.”

After Rivera’s mausoleum entombment, dozens of firefighters from all across the state and region honored Rivera during a casual luncheon at the Colonial Fire Co. in Hamilton. Firefighters chowed down on hot dogs and drank beer as they celebrated the life of their fallen brother.

“When I first heard about Manny, flashbacks came to me and I took it very hard,” Trenton Firefighter Chris Rowe told The Trentonian during the luncheon at Colonial. About two years ago, Rowe was trapped inside a burning house on Prospect Street.

“The house lit up simultaneously; I was in a really bad spot. I’m very lucky to be here,” Rowe added, saying one of his firefighting comrades rescued him from that sudden residential flare up. He spoke highly of Rivera, describing him as “a great guy with a great voice.”

Joe Vallo, a Jersey City fireman, said, “We’re all gonna show up to each other’s stuff. He (Rivera) paid the ultimate sacrifice — and that’s the way we look at it. We’re brothers. It’s family.”

Firefighter Kevin Donohue traveled 2½ hours from Howard County, Md., to honor Trenton’s fallen fire hero. Donohue said firefighters show up to support fallen firefighters from another town “to do the right thing — and you want to do the right thing for the family.”

New York City firefighters showed up in force to Rivera’s funeral and the celebrating luncheon. An FDNY fireman said “40 or 50 of us came down to show our support for a brother who gave his life. For that, we show our respect.”

Firefighter pipe bands from as far away as Newark came to town to play music for the late Rivera. “It’s good to give a guy who gave his life a nice send-off; that’s why we formed the band,” said Dennis Connor, a veteran Elizabeth firefighter who manages the Union County Police and Fire Pipes & Drums band. “We like to give our brother a nice send-off.”

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A final salute for Manny Rivera

Sunday, April 05, 2009

BY ALEX ZDAN

The Trenton Times

http://www.nj.com

TRENTON -- Hailed as an extraordinary citizen for sacrificing his life to save another man, Firefighter Manny Rivera was given a hero's funeral yesterday.

As family members watched and white-gloved firefighters saluted, Rivera's casket was carried down the stairs of St. Mary's Cathedral and laid on top of a fire engine. The procession to the cemetery passed through a memorial arch created by two ladder trucks bridging North Warren Street, and included dozens of engines with red lights flashing.

Bishop John M. Smith said Rivera's death in the line of duty from injuries he sustained during a rescue in February was an even higher sacrifice than losing one's life for a loved one.

"Manny did more," Smith said. "He laid down his life to save the life of someone he did not know."

Rivera's death marked the first time a city firefighter has died in the line of duty in 23 years.

"Manny chose a way of life in which service guarantees sacrifice every single day," Msgr. John Dermond said. "And sometimes so painfully, so tragically, you give your life to save a life."

Rivera received two eulogies, one from a relative, another from a member of the fire service. His brother-in-law, police Sgt. Benito Bello, spoke of a devoted father and husband who was known by the family as "Quique."

Bello told the mourners something about Rivera that even his wife, Joann, Rivera's sister, did not know.

"Quique gave me his blessing to marry you, with dad's permission of course," Bello said.

To fellow firefighters, Rivera was known as "Manny," and retired Capt. Paul Tweely said Rivera's death leaves behind a void felt by all who knew him.

"You will always be missed by the men and women of the Trenton Fire Department," he said.

But both eulogists remembered a man with a big personality, a quick wit, and a sense of fun.

"Who could forget his loud voice?" Bello said. "When I lived a block away from him, I knew when he was home. I could hear him talking on the cordless phone in front of the house."

Tweely said Rivera's nickname was "the mayor" because everyone on the street seemed to know him when he drove by in the fire engine. His culinary skills were the only ones that seemed to be lacking.

"In the kitchen, we didn't let Manny cook that often," Tweely said. "He burned rice one night, so we took the utensils away from him."

Neither man could resist telling humorous stories about Rivera, even if the punchline came at their own expense.

"He asked me one time, 'What do firemen and policemen have in common?'" Bello said. Stumped, Bello asked what the answer was.

"'They both want to be firemen,'" Bello recalled Rivera saying. "For once, I had no comeback."

Tweely said he and Rivera were working one night when they were dispatched as an extra engine to a fire on Beatty Street. As soon as they left the firehouse, both men realized they could not remember where Beatty Street was.

"We kept going down Broad Street, figuring it was the right way," Tweely said.

Much shouting, cursing, and a turn onto Chestnut Avenue later, they arrived at Beatty Street. As the driver, Rivera said he would go to the battalion chief and accept responsibility for the late arrival at the scene.

"He said, 'I'll take the hit on this one, Cap,'" Tweely recalled. "We come to find out the chief was following us."

Firefighting was what Rivera wanted to do with his life.

"You left us doing what you loved the most," Bello said. "Manny we love you, we miss you, but please know you will never be forgotten."

After the service, the funeral procession headed to Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery in Hamilton, where Rivera's casket was entombed inside a mausoleum. The white casket was covered with roses and white gloves.

Rivera's mother left the mausoleum sobbing, one of the white flowers in her hand. Rivera's former colleagues were also grieving.

"It was a sad day for everyone," Firefighter Wayne Wolk said. "I mean, all our guys are hurting."

Wolk said the organization and pageantry of the services would soon give way to the knowledge that life must return to normal.

"Now reality's going to start setting in," he said. "We lost a good man."

Someone who knew Rivera longer than almost anyone else is Firefighter Juan Rivera III, who in his teenage years hung out with the unrelated Manny Rivera on Academy Street.

"You could almost say we were related, because for many years we did everything together," he said.

They were part of a group known as "the Bubble Bunch," named after the bubble-like area of four basketball courts at the end of Academy Street.

"That's where all the neighborhood kids, everybody, used to go and play," he said. "We held onto that name as long as we could."

He says the man who rushed up a ladder to save a terrified victim hanging by his fingers from a third-story window is a man he knew well.

"Manny didn't hesitate," he said. "That's who Manny was."

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