Vincent Joseph Albanese was born September 23, 1946, in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York. Vinnie, as he was known to friends and family, was an outgoing and friendly person with a great sense of humor.

After graduating from Syosset High School in 1965, Vinnie enlisted in the Army, first serving as a medic and then transitioning into Armor, at Fort Lewis, Washington.

In 1968, Vinnie made the decision to join the New York City Fire Department, where he worked at Ladder 38/Engine 88 for 38 years.

Vinnie loved the fire department and his brothers in the FDNY. As senior man in the firehouse, Vinnie was a natural leader, mentoring, advising, and instilling a sense of pride in every aspect of life in the firehouse. He obtained his chauffeur’s license and took particular enjoyment when driving the rig during the holidays, wearing rabbit ears or his helmet, decorated for Christmas, with music blasting. No matter what order of business or impending inspections, Vinnie never failed to mix in a joke or play a prank on one of the guys. Throughout his years in the firehouse, Vinnie would enhance his military training by attending the U.S. Army’s Aviation School at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and the Test Pilot course at Fort Eustis, Virginia.

Vinnie married Christine Albanese in 1980. I am sure Vinnie would say that, for both of us, our crowning achievement was the birth of our two beautiful daughters, Kelly and Gillian. Today, both girls are married and work in occupations where they can be of service to others. I know how proud Vinnie was of his girls. In both occupations, he strove to help people, serving both New York City and the state of New York. His Aviation Brigade at Islip MacArthur Airport was activated several times, including the wildfires in the Pine Barrens, Hurricane Gloria, and the recovery and reconstruction of Flight 800.

Vinnie went down to New Orleans to assist the firefighters in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. He told me that they helped us after 9/11. His last assignment for the FDNY was instructing the firefighters in the use of personal ropes, a new tool designed to improve firefighter safety.

On July 31, 2010, Vinnie gave up his fight with bladder cancer. I remember him saying, “Well, I’ve had a good run.” Not a day passes without my thinking of a “ Vinnie story,” or what I like to call a “Vinnie-ism.” He lives on, and I am fairly certain that he is in Heaven “keeping things lively and humorous.”