By Alexander Dworkowitz
Both Firefighter Thomas Gardner and Firefighter Thomas Asaro were dedicated to their professions. But the two men did not limit their passions to rescues.
Gardner, who grew up in Flushing, had a love for science, volunteering his time to teach at the Bronx Zoo.
Asaro, who grew up in Whitestone, had a taste for acting, appearing in shows such as “The Sopranos” and “Law and Order,” and had also been an extra in several films.
On Monday, Community Board 7 decided that both men, who died in the rescue efforts of Sept. 11, 2001, deserve to be honored in their old neighborhoods.
CB 7 voted unanimously to name 163rd Street between 43rd Avenue and 45th Avenue “Firefighter Thomas Gardner Lane” and 147th Street between Willets Point Boulevard and 24th Avenue “Firefighter Carl F. Asaro Way.”
Before the vote, Fire Chief Dennis Crichton thanked the community for its support of emergency crews after the loss of 343 firefighters on Sept. 11.
“You hugged us, you waved to us and you gave us a bottle of water,” he said.
Crichton told the board that the pain of the event was still strongly felt in the department, but help from the community has also continued, he said.
“It hasn't ended,” he said. “As a show of support, these street renamings really do make a difference for us.”
Gardner served with HazMat 1 in Maspeth and lived in Oceanside. Asaro was a member of Battalion 9 in Manhattan and resided in Middletown.
Victor Ross, a member of CB 7, praised Gardner for his volunteerism at the Bronx Zoo.
“Firefighter Gardner lived a full and meaningful life, not only in what he wanted out of life, but in helping other people realize the beauty of it,” he said.
In addition to acting, Asaro often went hunting for ducks and wild boars, Ross said.
“We have another man who was not bounded by the profession he chose,” Ross added.
The City Council is expected to approve the new street names.
The board also voted to deny a variance to build extra houses on a vacant Flushing lot.
The lot, at 45-78 161st St., can accommodate two three-family homes, according to zoning regulations.
But the developer is seeking to build three three-family homes in order to make a profit, said the developer's attorney, Joseph Morsellino.
The name of the developer was not mentioned at the meeting, although city records indicate the lot is owned by Joseph Parisano.
Several neighbors told the board that the extra home would add a burden on their neighborhood.
“Two houses, fine. Three houses, you are going overboard,” Tom Budzick said.
Others said the extra home would exacerbate parking problems in the neighborhood.
The board voted 30-12 to reject the variance.
The vote was somewhat unusual in that it went against the recommendation of a CB 7 committee, which had unanimously supported granting the variance. There were also no questions and no discussion by board members on the issue.
The city Board of Standards and Appeals has the final say on the matter following a recommendation by Borough President Helen Marshall.
Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300 Ext. 141.
