Long Island Firefighter Dies In Hiking Accident

MINEOLA, NY — A scholarship fund will be part of the legacy left behind by a Long Island firefighter who tragically died this week.

Twenty-one-year-old Andrew Desiderio, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering at Binghamton University, was killed in a hiking accident on Monday, according to a report in Binghamton University's Pipe Dream.

A GoFundMe page named the Andrew Desiderio Memorial Scholarship Fund was set up yesterday by Mary Desiderio. Instead of food or flowers, her family is urging members of the community to donate to a scholarship fund created in conjunction with Mineola High School to remember Desiderio, a former Eagle Scout who first joined the fire department when he was 13 years old, she wrote.

She could not be reached for comment.

Desiderio had many friends from high school, the scouts, the fire department, and college, according to Mary’s post.

“Spending time with them – either one-on-one or in a group – meant everything to him,” she wrote. “Andrew recently took up playing guitar and enjoyed sharing that hobby with his brothers. He enjoyed spending time with, and traveling with his family.”

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Mineola Fire Department officials announced Desiderio’s death, saying that their hearts are “heavy” from losing him.

“Although he has left us all too soon we remember that Andrew was doing what he loved. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers,” the post continued, “Rest easy, Andrew.”

So far, Desiderio’s GoFundMe page has raised over $61,000, which is about $51,000 over its original fundraising goal of $10,000.

Desiderio, who grew up in Williston Park, moved up in the ranks of the Boy Scouts of America Troop 45 in Mineola, finally achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, which led to his “love of camping and outdoor adventures,” Mary wrote, adding that he traveled with other scouts through Colorado, where they hiked Philmont Scout Ranch, which is about over 80 miles through the mountains of New Mexico.

“From that time he vowed to go back west and explore,” she wrote.

Desiderio first joined the Mineola Fire Department’s junior program and four years later, went on to become a full member at 17 years old, Mary wrote.

Mary described him as a proud member of Company 2, “ The Workhorse Company,” saying he “benefitted greatly from the training, experiences, and friendships he gained as a Mineola volunteer firefighter.

“Even as a young boy, Andrew loved to create and build things,” she wrote. “His mind was always working on plans and ideas. He learned woodworking and welding as a student at Mineola High School.”

Desiderio was a member of the Binghamton Motorsports SAE Formula Car Team, in which he served as chief engineer this year, according to Mary. Desiderio, who was set to graduate in May, hoped to race the car in Michigan this spring, she wrote.

Desiderio worked his way up to the rank of junior lieutenant, and while he spent most of his time in the shop building the school's formula car in Binghamton, he was “always on the move when he was home,” fire department officials said.

The firefighters lamented that he had just started a band, and a detailing company he started was “just kicking back up for the summer.”

Desiderio was described by department officials as the type of person who would pitch in wherever needed, whether it was “filling in for members on leader duty, jumping into the kitchen to help cook, painting a picture of “Whiskers,” the department’s mascot, or “writing the company newsletter.”

They also recalled his love of the outdoors, saying that during the summer, “you could find him at the beach either fishing or boating,” and “he tried to go mountain biking whenever the weather allowed, and he loved to go hiking.”

Desiderio is survived by his parents, Michael and Mary, his two younger brothers, Justin and James, as well as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Donations continued to pour in from friends and community members in Desiderio’s memory on Thursday evening.

One woman, who told the family she was sorry for their loss, wrote: “I remember coming over when he was a baby to play with him. He will greatly be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Mary, Mike, Justin, and James. May Andrew rest in peace.”

Another community member wrote: “Our love, thoughts, and prayers go out to the Desiderio family. We pray that God gives you the strength you need to make it through this unthinkable tragedy.”

Yet another wrote: “Andrew was a great guy and role model. May he rest in peace and may Mike, Mary, Justin, and James find strength and comfort in knowing how many lives he touched.”