Jersey City, New Jersey (WABC) – Tuesday night will be the awakening of former Major League Baseball pitcher and current Port Authority Police Officer Anthony Farvano, who was killed in a misdirected crash on the way to a 9/11 memorial party.
Friends and family will pay their respects from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Matthew’s Funeral Home on Staten Island.
There will be two more wakes on Wednesdays from 2pm to 5pm and from 7pm to 9pm, and a funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Church of Our Lady of the Good Chancellor with arrest to follow St. Peter. graveyard.
The 37-year-old officer, who grew up in Westerleigh on Staten Island and played six seasons of professional baseball after an outstanding college career in St.
Farvaro retired in 2016 after stints with the Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox and joined the Port Authority Police Department.
The accident occurred early Sunday morning along the eastern New Jersey Turnpike Hudson Bay in Jersey City, where police say 30-year-old Henry Plazas, of Bridgewater, was heading west on the eastern lanes when he crashed directly into Farfano’s car.
Both drivers were killed.
St. John’s baseball team captain Mike Hampton said he was “a word of loss” over Farvaro’s death.
“He wasn’t just everything you wanted from a footballer, he was everything you wanted in anyone,” said Hampton, who was assistant coach at St. John’s during Farvaro’s three seasons there. “My heart goes out to his family, friends, colleagues and fellow officers.”
Port Authority officials said in a statement that Farvaro “exemplified the best of this agency and will be remembered for his courage and commitment to service.”
“On this solemn occasion, as the Port Authority mourns the loss of 84 employees in the World Trade Center attacks – including 37 members of the Port Authority Police Department – our grief only deepens today at the death of Officer Farvaro,” the statement said. Written by Port Authority President Kevin O’Toole and CEO Rick Cotton.
Farvaro, who studied criminal justice at St. John’s University and graduated in 2005, told student newspaper The Torch in December 2016 that he inquired about port authority police jobs while participating in majors.
“I thought my career was very successful in baseball,” he told the newspaper. “I’ve played a number of seasons, and I was fine to move on to the next step in my life.”
Port Authority officials said Farvaro became a police officer in December 2016 and was on patrol for nearly five years before transferring to the Port Authority Police Academy to become an instructor.
He also worked with Little Leaguers.
“We are saddened to announce the passing of our President, friend, coach, husband and father, Anthony Farvaro,” said Sailor’s Snug Harbor Little League. “The Snug Harbor LL community is deeply saddened by the loss of Anthony. Not only was Anthony the boss, he was a wonderful person. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.”
He leaves behind a wife and four children.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
Related | 9/11 after 21 years: Reflections, images and stories
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