Woodmere YI salutes fallen Inwood firefighter

The Young Israel of Woodmere, with Rabbi Hershel Billet and many of its members, along with other rabbis from the community and several members of the Woodmere Fire Department, stood on Peninsula Boulevard on a symbolically bitter cold day to pay a last tribute to a fallen hero on Dec. 31.

Asst. Chief Joseph Sanford, Jr., 43, a 17 year volunteer veteran of the Inwood Fire Department, tragically lost his life after fighting a fire in a Woodmere home on Dec 19.

He was the son of Joe Sanford, Sr., a well liked and respected member of the YIW maintenance staff for over 15 years.

YIW members and firefighters assembled outside the shul, some saluting as funeral procession moved along Penninsula Blvd. and a limousine carrying the Sanford family passed by.

Firefighters and police from across the country honored Sanford at his funeral in Inwood.

Local bid to honor Sanford

Woodmere political activist Avi Fertig has created an online petition asking the Lawrence School District to rename Lawrence Middle School in memory of volunteer firefighter Joseph Sanford Jr.

Aware that the Lawrence district was considering renaming the middle school as part of a restructuring plan it will implement in September, Fertig said he emailed Superintendent Gary Schall about his idea. 

“Joseph Sanford was truly a hero,” Schall said. “He represents the heroism of all first responders. Naming the school after a fireman is a way to honor all of our first responders.”