FEBRUARY 2013
TIOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY PRESS
PAGE 9
Remembering Matt Porcari by Patrick Gavin
I have been asked by the Porcari family to share my recollections of my lifelong friend, Fallen Owego Firefighter and Croton Hose #3 Captain Matt Porcari. I write through deep sadness but consider this request an honor and privilege. Matt and I first met at a young age on Delphine Street in front of his grandparents’ house. Both our fathers were members of the Owego Fire Department’s firematic hose racing team and Delphine Street is where the practices were held. Hose races are timed events where firefighters test their skills in competition. We were the “hose team helpers” and would roll and drain the hose of water between the practice runs. Matt was a “Flat Rat,” a name affectionately given to residents living in the “Flats,” an area of the village. I grew up in “Turtle Town” but would soon become an honorary Flat Rat after our first meeting. I’d always had envy of the tightknit Flats community. Many of the families are pillars of the village--last names like the Dunhams and Porcaris. Flat Rats have certain qualities about them, all of which are exemplified by Matt. They always have each other’s backs, never are afraid to voice and stand up for their beliefs, and always, always are there when needed. The motto, “Flats against the world,” never has rung more true than in difficult times like these. Our generation of Flat Rats grew up prior to the computer age. Most of the time was spent outdoors playing and fishing the Owego creek. There were nightly “jailbreak” games, “lob ball” at Owego Little League, whiffle ball across the street from his parents, John and Cheri’s house, tackle football in the Bidwell lot on Delphine, and of course, toilet papering the trees of George Street the night before homecoming. Always in the middle of things, Matt was one of the ring leaders. At age 16 we joined the Owego Fire Department just like our fathers and grandfathers before us. We went through new member training together learning
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“ON THE RUN AROUND THE CLOCK”
the ins and outs of firefighting from our dads. One of our first fires together was on Thorn Hollow Road. My dad and I came down Talcott Street in OFD’s Mack pumper. As we turned the corner from North Ave. we could see reflective gear coming at us in the middle of Talcott Street. As we approached, we saw that it was Matt and his dad running in their turnout gear to Station #3. During our career there were many fires: A structure fire by McMaster Street where a cat jumped out of a closet onto Matt while he was performing a search; the old Owego Creamery fire also off of McMaster Street we fought together with our dads; a chimney fire on Montrose Turnpike where Matt grabbed me as I almost slid off the roof trying to get up to the chimney; the Taylor Garage fire where Matt was featured on the cover of the Press and Sun Bulletin. When the fire whistle sounded he was there to serve our community time and time again. With the serious side of the fire department comes the social side of the fire department where Matt was also leader of the pack. As soon as we joined the department we started hose racing. Every night we were on Delphine Street practicing for the big Central NY races that were being held in Owego that year in 1995. Our practice paid off and the “hose team helpers” became the hose team champions as we went on to become the youngest team to win the tournament in history. We continued to race ever since. At the races in Old Forge recently, the hose team had bet that whoever messed up a race had to jump into a nearby lake. Matt, unfortunately, missed a connection and gladly obliged to the grin and laughter of the other teams and spectators by jumping right in. The hose team also participated in the
Firemen’s Association of New York (FASNY) Winter Games where Matt tackled a team of other participants into the hotel pool after the games had concluded in fun. A regular at Company #3’s annual clambake, Matt was the king of “jungle rules” volleyball. At Company #3’s annual banquet we would all gather and sing “American Pie” at the conclusion of the event in honor of John. These functions were always full of fun, laughter, maybe a little bit of mischief-and we always represented the Owego Fire Department with pride. Matt and I were also on the 1997 New York State Class B Championship Baseball Team, the first team to win a state championship in Owego’s history. Matt was never afraid to take one for the team and I believe he led the league in
being hit by pitches. "As long as I get on base," I can vividly remember him saying. He grew up playing on the Partners in Little League and turned into a state championship first baseman. There are countless other memories and stories I can share but these are a few that come to mind. He was someone I knew if I called I could count on for help no matter what it was. He was a loving father to his children, big brother to Tammy, and the love of his life, Christina. He was both his father’s and his mother’s son in so many ways. I am so proud to have known him and so sad he is gone. May he rest in peace and be forever in our hearts. May his memory and spirit help us to continue the same selfless service to our communities, and carry on his love of fun and life.
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