Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta accepts the FDNY Columbia Association's Man of the Year
award from Supervising Fire Marshal Buddy Santangelo (seated)

 

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta was named the 2009 Man of the Year by the FDNY’s Columbia Association on June 19 at the group’s 75th Annual Scholarship Dinner Dance at Russo’s on the Bay in Queens.

“I think I have been enormously lucky to work in public service,” Commissioner Scoppetta said to the crowd of more than 400 well-wishers. “I have had a very fortunate and successful career.”

Commissioner Scoppetta was appointed as New York City’s 31st fire commissioner by Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Dec. 30, 2001.

He was born on the Lower East Side of 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 received his Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School in 1962. While attending law school at night, he worked by day as an investigator for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Upon graduation from law school, he was appointed an Assistant District Attorney in New York County by District Attorney Frank S. Hogan. He has also served as Associate Counsel to the Knapp Commission, an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and as the Deputy Independent Counsel in the investigation and prosecution of a former Special Assistant to the President of the United States.

He also served as a Deputy Mayor, Commissioner of Investigation for the City of New York, Commissioner for the Administration for Children’s Services and on the boards of numerous non-profit institutions.

“Nicholas Scoppetta has worked hard to fulfill the American dream,” said Supervising Fire Marshal Buddy Santangelo, President of the Columbia Association. “He is someone who is dedicated to public service and deserves no less than our praise and heartfelt acknowledgment.”

Commissioner Scoppetta thanked numerous members of the Department for their support during his nearly eight years as Fire Commissioner, including Chief Cassano, Chief of Operations Patrick McNally, his Executive Officer Capt. Thomas Kelly, staff chiefs and his Executive Assistant Margie Fermaint.

“As any firefighter will tell you, it’s all about teamwork, and I couldn’t have done it without them,” Commissioner Scoppetta said.

The Commissioner, whose father was from Amalfi in Italy, was the 30th person to receive the honor. Other honorees have included Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano, Chief of EMS John Peruggia and former Mayor Rudy Guiliani.

He noted the event marked his 46th wedding anniversary to his wife, Susan.

The annual Dinner Dance also included the presentation of 11 scholarship awards for both college and high school study for the children of Association members. The year’s Humanitarian Award was presented to Vincenzo Marra, Founder of ILICA.