The city of Mt. Vernon last Saturday, 9/11/10, commemorated 5 citizens who perished from this earth 9 years earlier.
Troop Forty, whose Scoutmaster Michael A. Boccardi, 30, was 1 of those 5, took part in the commemoration at city hall. The timing of the ceremony, which started a little after 8:30 a.m., presumably was meant to coincide with the 1st strike on the World Trade Center, which we think killed our friend, who worked on the 92d floor of the north tower.
The early hour was a sacrifice for these teens. We're proud that most of the Scouts were willing to make it, as were many of their parents.
When relatives of the deceased came up to light candles and place them at the city's 9/11 monument, one of the senior Scouts represented the Boccardi family and the troop. Life Scout Tylar Rodriguez was a Cub Scout when Mr. Boccardi ran the troop.
9/11/01 was just days before Troop Forty was going to have its 1st meeting of the new school year. That meeting was held, but it turned into a memorial service for our missing Scoutmaster. One Scouter wrote to me on 9/12:
Padre,
There is no way I can begin to express my sorrow and frustration over what has happened to my best friend. I am finding it very difficult to cope with this. I have been in constant touch with our circle of Troop 40 people. There is no good news.
Mike has always been there for me. He spoke to me almost on a daily basis. I would often get a cell phone call just to share some simple moment. I try to hold out some ray of hope, but so far there is little to raise my hopes.
I know that God is with us, but I can’t help wondering why this was allowed to happen. I hope to see you soon.
There is no way I can begin to express my sorrow and frustration over what has happened to my best friend. I am finding it very difficult to cope with this. I have been in constant touch with our circle of Troop 40 people. There is no good news.
Mike has always been there for me. He spoke to me almost on a daily basis. I would often get a cell phone call just to share some simple moment. I try to hold out some ray of hope, but so far there is little to raise my hopes.
I know that God is with us, but I can’t help wondering why this was allowed to happen. I hope to see you soon.
I don’t have all details of Friday’s meeting except that we will all be there, probably at the gym.
Here's the obituary that ran in the Journal News on Oct. 11, 2001:
BOCCARDI, MICHAEL ANDREW
Michael Andrew Boccardi, 30, of Bronxville, missing since the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center tragedy, will be remembered at a special Memorial Mass on Sunday, October 14, at 2:30 p.m. at St. Ursula’s Church, Lincoln Avenue, Mount Vernon. Family, friends and community are welcomed and invited to attend the services to express their love.
Michael touched the lives of many people and will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew him, especially his parents, Michael R. Boccardi and Carol A. Boccardi; his sister Michelle and her husband Todd Bronson; his goddaughter and niece Taylor Rose; and his grandmother, Rose Boccardi.
Michael attended Mount Vernon High School, where he excelled, earning a full scholarship to Cooper Union School of Engineering, having achieved a perfect score on the math section of the SAT. His teachers remembered him as a gentleman who was on top of his academics and one of the most superb students they ever had the honor, pleasure and privilege to have taught.
Being a Eagle Scout was important to Michael since it was always his desire to influence young men to understand, practice and accept the true meaning of what it meant to be a Boy Scout. This represented true American ideals to him and he remained committed to his beliefs, serving as scoutmaster to Troop 40 and assistant cubmaster to Pack 40.
His fine character, intelligence and continued devotion to Scouting open doors for him at Fred Alger Management, Inc., where an officer of this company who watched him grow up, offered him a job. Michael rose to the position of senior vice president of institutional relations.
His determination to influence the lives of young adults continued in the form of dedication to his church. He also became a detective with Rockland County Child Protective Services, unselfishly serving others and his community. He always graciously found time for his family and friends no matter what time of day it would be.
Michael’s legacy will live on...for he walked quietly and left his footprints etched indelibly upon the hearts of all who had the pleasure to know him.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the MICHAEL BOCCARDI TRUST, c/o Joseph Goubeaud, Esq., 22 West First Street, Suite 502, Mount Vernon, NY 10550, which will be used for the benefit of the Boy Scouts.
Michael Andrew Boccardi, 30, of Bronxville, missing since the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center tragedy, will be remembered at a special Memorial Mass on Sunday, October 14, at 2:30 p.m. at St. Ursula’s Church, Lincoln Avenue, Mount Vernon. Family, friends and community are welcomed and invited to attend the services to express their love.
Michael touched the lives of many people and will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew him, especially his parents, Michael R. Boccardi and Carol A. Boccardi; his sister Michelle and her husband Todd Bronson; his goddaughter and niece Taylor Rose; and his grandmother, Rose Boccardi.
Michael attended Mount Vernon High School, where he excelled, earning a full scholarship to Cooper Union School of Engineering, having achieved a perfect score on the math section of the SAT. His teachers remembered him as a gentleman who was on top of his academics and one of the most superb students they ever had the honor, pleasure and privilege to have taught.
Being a Eagle Scout was important to Michael since it was always his desire to influence young men to understand, practice and accept the true meaning of what it meant to be a Boy Scout. This represented true American ideals to him and he remained committed to his beliefs, serving as scoutmaster to Troop 40 and assistant cubmaster to Pack 40.
His fine character, intelligence and continued devotion to Scouting open doors for him at Fred Alger Management, Inc., where an officer of this company who watched him grow up, offered him a job. Michael rose to the position of senior vice president of institutional relations.
His determination to influence the lives of young adults continued in the form of dedication to his church. He also became a detective with Rockland County Child Protective Services, unselfishly serving others and his community. He always graciously found time for his family and friends no matter what time of day it would be.
Michael’s legacy will live on...for he walked quietly and left his footprints etched indelibly upon the hearts of all who had the pleasure to know him.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the MICHAEL BOCCARDI TRUST, c/o Joseph Goubeaud, Esq., 22 West First Street, Suite 502, Mount Vernon, NY 10550, which will be used for the benefit of the Boy Scouts.
May our beloved friend, and all who were slain so cruelly that day, rest in the Lord's peace. May the Lord turn the hearts of the cruel to repentance.
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