Cordice, Robert

Robertds Cordice, Sqd.1 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Firefighter Robert J. Cordice always loved action. That’s what motivated the 28-year-old New Springville resident to transfer from Engine Co. 152 in Rosebank to Squad 1 in Park Slope, Brooklyn, exactly two weeks before the Sept. 11 World Trade Center disaster. “It’s no surprise that he was in the building when it collapsed,” said his friend and neighbor, Firefighter John Deliso. “He was the type of guy who wasn’t worried about himself. He was just worried about getting everyone else out.” Mr. Cordice would have been 29 on Oct. 17. Mr. Deliso described Mr. Cordice as his closest friend. “He would do anything for you. Not only for me, but for all his friends.” “All his friends loved him very much,” said his mother, Caroline Calicchio Cordice. “He was a very funny, very positive, very honest and loving son.” Born in Brooklyn, he was brought as a child to Shore Acres, and moved to New Springville in 1988. Mr. Cordice entered the Police Academy in 1993, and graduated in 1994. He was a police officer with the 13th Precinct, Manhattan, until Oct. 19, 1997. He then joined the Fire Department. Prior to his time at Engine 152 and Squad 1, he served one-year rotations at Ladder Co. 102, Brooklyn, and Engine Co. 1, Manhattan. “He was always saying, ‘I want to go on — to move up.’ He was a pretty aggressive kid,” Mrs. Cordice said. “He was always on the move; always ready for whatever was to come to him,” said his girl friend, Christina DePetro of Huguenot. “He was handsome, charming. The day I met him I knew he was going to be the man in my life for the rest of my life.” Firefighter Richard Zerilli of New Brighton, who went through the Fire Academy with Mr. Cordice and later served with him at Engine 152, said of his friend and colleague, “I remember Rob as always having a smile on his face. He was a very outgoing person, who liked to laugh, liked to have fun.” Off-duty, he had worked as a bartender for the past year and a half at the East Shore Inn, South Beach. Mr. Cordice worked out extensively at the gym, building his muscles to the point where he made the 2002 Fire Department calendar. “He was sitting on the famous Wall Street Bull, in his bunker pants and suspenders, no shirt,” Mr. Deliso said. Mr. Cordice also enjoyed riding his motorcycle, a Suzuki GSXR 750. He was a graduate of St. Peter’s Boys High School. He played in the East Shore Little League, and was a member of the league’s 1985 championship team. In addition to his mother, Caroline, and his girl friend, Christina, surviving are his aunt, Jo Ann Amelio, and his uncle, Alphonse Calicchio. A memorial mass will be held Friday at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Holy Angels R.C. Church, Little Falls, N.J. The Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, Tottenville, is handling the arrangements.