Around Town

Newton Firefighters Make Hefty Donation to Family of Fallen Watertown Firefighter

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The Watertown Fire Department received a visit from their friends in the Newton Fire Department this week, who came bearing a generous gift for the family of Joseph Toscano. The Newton contingent delivered a check for $10,000 for the family of Toscano, who lost his life in the line of duty on March 17. Newton Firefighter Union President Tom Lopez presented the donation along with firefighters Brian Albano and Brian McNamara and Deputy Chief Mike McNamara, according to Watertown Deputy Fire Chief Tom McManus. They gave the check to members of Group 2, the group on which Toscano worked for most of his 20+ year career. Watertown Deputy Chief Bob Quinn, Union President Rob Mannix and members of Group 2 posed with the Newton Firefighters for a photo to commemorate the visit.

Government

Town Council, Town Officials Salute Watertown’s Fallen Firefighter

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This week, the Town Council and Town officials honored fallen Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano with a moment of silence at the end of Tuesday’s Town Council, and shared their condolences. Town Council Mark Sideris spoke on behalf of the Town Council. “We express our condolences to his wife, his family and his firefighter family in Watertown and across the state,” Sideris said. Sideris also thanked Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio and the Fire Department for arranging the funeral for Toscano on March 22. “It was a day that we can say we were all proud to be from Watertown,” Sideris said.

Fallen Firefighter

1,000s Bid Farewell to Fallen Firefighter Toscano – a Loving, Renaissance Man

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Joseph Toscano, the Watertown Firefighter who lost his life in the line of duty on March 17, was a humble man who would never boast about his talents and accomplishments, but those who remembered “Joey T.” during his funeral service Wednesday morning remembered him as a great firefighter, an amazing father and as a multi-talented Renaissance man. The outpouring of love and support from friends, family and others has been very comforting to Toscano’s family, said his oldest daughter Alyssa during the funeral at St. Patrick’s Church in Watertown. Thousands of firefighters from around the Massachusetts and beyond lined Main Street to watch Toscano’s funeral procession arrive at the church. Last Friday started as a typical morning, as Toscano said goodbye to his family on his way to work, but a few hours later phone calls from the Watertown Fire Department reported a life-changing tragedy.

Police/Fire

Volunteers, Community Come Together to Welcome Attendees of Firefighter’s Funeral

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It takes a village, or in this case a town, to put on a funeral for a fallen hero. Work began in the days before the funeral for fallen Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano on Wednesday morning. And volunteers, organizations and business owners all chipped in to welcome thousands of firefighters from around the Bay State and across the country to Watertown. They provided food, shelter and – maybe most importantly – restrooms.

Just after dawn on Wednesday, a few canteens set up to provide breakfast, coffee, and later lunch for the many “jakes” who descended on Watertown Square. The Boston Sparks Association, a volunteer group operating out of the Boston Fire Museum, setup about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Fallen Firefighter

Toscano Overcame Challenges as a Youth to Become a Fine Firefighter, Husband

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Thousands of firefighters are expected to pour into Watertown Wednesday to bid farewell Firefighter Joseph Toscano, who died in the line of duty and whose funeral will be held Wednesday. But a couple knew the fallen hero better than anyone. 

When Watertown Deputy Fire Chief Bob Quinn needed to appoint an aide 12 and a half years ago an he knew the Toscano was the perfect man for the job. “He was my first choice,” Quinn said. “I need someone that I could rely on, someone that I could trust, someone who could make decisions to help me make good decisions.”

Quinn said Toscano’s death is a “devastating” blow for the department. “He was a fantastic person,” Quinn said.

Around Town

Police Warn to Stay Clear of Watertown Square for Firefighter’s Funeral

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To make way for those honoring fallen Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano, Watertown Square and a section of Main Street will shut down Wednesday and will not reopen until the early afternoon. Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn said that getting around the detours could be challenging. “We are asking people to stay away from Watertown Square on Wednesday morning,” Lawn said. Starting at 8:30 a.m., Main Street will be closed from Watertown Square west to Waverley Avenue. They will remain closed until the funeral services for Toscano at St.

Ed Walsh

Main Street Will be Shut Down for Fallen Watertown Firefighter’s Funeral

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A firefighter’s funeral is an amazing spectacle as thousands of fellow firefighters come to show their last respects. To accommodate all those coming to bid farewell to Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano, Main Street in Watertown will be shut down much of Wednesday. The Watertown Police Department announced the closure on Sunday afternoon. “Please be advised that Main St from Waverley Ave to Watertown Square will be closed this Wednesday at 8:30 am for the funeral service of FF Toscano. Please seek alternate routes and plan accordingly,” the Facebook announcement said.