John Vigiano Sr., a former Marine and decorated retired FDNY captain whose first responder sons lost their lives on 9/11, died Sunday after a battle with cancer, according to a family friend. He was 79.
Vigiano joined the FDNY ranks in 1962. He served as a firefighter in Ladder Co. 103, a lieutenant in Rescue Co. 2 and as captain of Ladder Co. 176. Vigiano retired from the Fire Department in 1998 with 36 years of service, all in Brooklyn.
He was instrumental in developing a number of operational procedures for FDNY ladder and rescue companies.
Vigiano took great pride in the fact that his sons followed him into lives of service. John Jr. was a firefighter. Joseph was a police detective. The Vigiano brothers were killed while working to save others in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.