The Herald remembers: Give blood in honor of those who gave lives

The Lakeview Fire Department will sponsor a blood drive in memory of Robert “Bobby” DeAngelis Jr., one of its former fire chiefs who perished on Sept. 11, 2001.

DeAngelis, a lifelong resident of West Hempstead who also served at one point as the commissioner of the West Hempstead Fire District, was a devout man and devoted father. Despite his small stature — he stood at five-feet-five-inches — DeAngelis had a big presence. An avid athlete, DeAngelis acquired the nickname “Little Giant” in high school, and it stuck.

“Bobby’s demeanor, professionalism, character and ‘can-do’ attitude made him one of the most notable members in [the department,” according to a brief bio written by Lakeview Assistant Fire Chief Heather Senti.

Senti’s father, Fred, was one of DeAngelis’s closest friends. They met in 1959, on the first day of kindergarten at St. Thomas the Apostle School, and remained friends until the day DeAngelis died in the south tower. DeAngelis, who was 47 at the time of his death, was the safety warden for his company, Washington Group International, and used his rescue expertise as a firefighter to help evacuate co-workers in his office on the 91st floor.

“Bobby, best described as a man of uncommon integrity, honor and valor, was one of those people who tended to act on his feelings of compassion,” Senti’s bio read. Surely, he acted on those feelings that day.

Join the Lakeview Fire Department on Sunday, Sept. 11, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Lakeview fire house, located at 895 Woodfield Road, to donate blood. If you are not eligible to donate, come by to have breakfast with the firefighters from 9 a.m. to noon.