Submitted by his Fire Department
Paul M. Lentini
Boston Fire Department – Massachusetts
Classification: Career
Rank: Fire Lieutenant
Date of Death: January 6‚ 1981
Age: 32
Paul M. Lentini was a 10 year veteran of the department assigned to Engine 37. While performing fire suppression operations‚ upper floors above collapsed trapping and fatally injuring Lentini and Firefighter James M. Gibbons. Four other firefighters were trapped along with them and numerous other firefighters were injured.
Paul Lentini was my father. He was the best person I’ve ever known. Funny, caring and kind. His laughter was infectious and he was always up to something. He was a marine in Vietnam and was 23 years old when I was born. 2 months later he became a Boston Firefighter. At the age of 28 he was promoted to Lieutenant. He was simultaneously attending classes at UMass Boston majoring in urban planning. On January 6th 1981, he worked on his day off for his friend. I had breakfast with him that morning. We looked for his socks in the laundry basket. He gave me a hug when he left. He didn’t come home that night. He died doing a job he loved. Although I miss him with all my heart, and wish he was still here, I have the utmost respect for him. Love you Dad
– KaraI was driving taxi cabs in Boston (1980-1985), and I was a witness that cold afternoon in 1981. I had a fare and was heading down Beacon Street from the top of Beacon Hill, and looked over to the Newbury St. area because of a huge column of smoke. Going on a 35-year old memory, I saw intense fire billowing out of the top of that building (corner of Newbury & Arlington Streets). I dropped off the fare somewhere in the Back Bay, and then returned to the fire scene, parking my cab and walking over to Newbury Street. I was standing across the street (on the Ritz Carlton Hotel side) watching. I saw some firefighters putting ladders into windows and hurriedly climbing up and then quickly ducking into the windows. The row of windows just above them had fire & smoke pouring out of them. I remember thinking that these guys were unbelievably calm in the midst of this roaring blaze. Then there was yelling, and I recall seeing what appeared to be a sort of slow-motion collapse within the building. Word went out about it on the street….and it was scary to see. I knew firefighters were trapped. It was one of the scariest things I’ve ever witnessed. I later learned two firefighters perished: Lentini & Gibbons….their names have been burnt into my mind all these years. To the families/survivors, my belated condolences…..they were truly heroic that day….At the time, there was no assurance that the building was empty. Peace
– Michael E. Amaral