Just in time for the eight-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks next month, the city of Peekskill has begun to celebrate the life of a resident firefighter who died helping others during that unforgettable day.

Pieces of a two-part monument were erected in Riverfront Green Park yesterday in honor of New York City firefighter Samuel Oitice, Peekskill’s only fatality in the 9/11 tragedy.

Former Mayor John Testa grew up with Oitice.

“I am thrilled that our vision has come to reality after hard work from the committee and fundraising,” he said. “It is gratifying to me personally because I went to elementary school and high school with Sam, and it is great for the community.”

“He was a unique individual, and he loved what he did,” said James Howard, deputy chief of the Peekskill Fire Department.

Pieces of the memorial include: a statue of a firefighter kneeling, a black granite monolith with the names of Oitice and the 14 other firefighters of Engine 54, Ladder 4, who died in the south tower when it collapsed, a bronze New York City Fire Department coat and helmet, and a 102-year-old bronze bell in memory of seven Peekskill firefighters who died during a fire at the city’s Fleischmann Manufacturing Co. in 1918.

As Oitice’s friends took pictures of the monument, Oitice’s widow, Jean Oitice, 58, smiled.

“It’s about time it came here,” she said.

Oitice had sweet memories of her husband. “He was a good husband, and he loved his kids and (was) dedicated to them,” she said.

The two were married for 20 years and had two children, John, 26, and Jessica, 23.

Samuel Oitice was born and raised in Peekskill. He joined the Peekskill Police Department in 1979 while waiting to get accepted into the New York City Fire Department. After working as a police officer for four years, Oitice became a part of the FDNY and worked as a firefighter for 18 years. He worked as a volunteer firefighter for the Peekskill Fire Department for 20 years.

“He brought fire education to every elementary school in Peekskill,”Howard said. “He was a coach of a roller hockey team and he loved the kids. He gave unaccountable amounts of hours to the youth of this city.”

Suzan Sheridan, former captain of the Peekskill Fire Department, said the entire memorial should be completed by the fall. A plaque with all the names of members of the police and fire departments who died on Sept. 11 also will be erected.

Howard said that the person who would have been the most proud of the memorial would be Oitice’s father, Julian Oitice, a former firefighter who died a few weeks ago.

“We believe that he and Sam are watching from up above,” he said.