Leavey, Joseph

Lt. Joseph Leavey, Lad.15 Joseph G. Leavey was born on November 13th‚ 1955 to Mary and Joseph Leavey and grew up in the Inwood section of Manhattan. He attended Good Shepherd Grammar School graduating in June of 1969 and the former Power Memorial Academy where he graduated as class valedictorian in June of 1973. After graduating from Power Memorial Academy‚ he entered Manhattan College’s School of Engineering. Upon graduating from Manhattan College in 1977‚ he pursued a career in civil engineering. He worked for the firm of W.J. Barney‚ HRH Construction and for Donald Trump while working on the famous Trump Tower in New York City. While he loved his time in construction‚ Joe’s true aspiration since he was a little boy was to become a New York City firefighter. After taking the test and being placed on a list‚ Joe was appointed to the New York City Fire Department in August of 1982. He was assigned to Engine 23 and subsequently Ladder 4 of Midtown Manhattan until his promotion to Lieutenant in February of 1998 where he was assigned to Ladder 15 in Lower Manhattan. Shortly after his appointment to the Fire Department‚ Joe married his partner in life‚ Carole J. Raffio. The two were married in 1984 and settled in the quiet suburb of Pelham‚ New York. There he raised his family‚ a son Brian (age 17)‚ a daughter Caitlin (age 11) and a stepdaughter Kerri‚ who he was proud to give away at her wedding on September 9th‚ 2000. Joe was very active in his community. Sometimes called the ñMayorî of Pelham‚ Joe was always known to go out of his way to greet someone. He was also very involved in his church‚ St. Catharine’s and the Hutchinson School PTA. Joe loved New York City and all of its many skyscrapers. He considered the World Trade Center an engineering marvel. How ironic it was that a building he loved so much would become a target of such hate. Besides his wife and children of Pelham‚ NY and parents of Yonkers‚ NY‚ Joe is survived by his sisters and brothers-in-law: Maureen and Jim McGillicuddy of Yonkers‚ New York‚ Nora and Steve Coco of Rochester‚ New York‚ Patty and Tim Sumner of Martinsburg‚ Pennsylvania‚ and Walter Bagley of Bronxville‚ New York. He is also survived by nephews John and Timmy McGillicuddy of Yonkers‚ niece Christine Coco of Rochester‚ and nephew Mark Fitzgerald of Boston‚ Massachusetts.