In a ceremony today at City Hall, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and elected officials honored Anthony Fiorino, an East Boston resident and lieutenant with Boston Emergency Medical Services, in recognition of 50 years of service as an employee of the City of Boston.
“For half a century, Lt. Fiorino has brought a level of dedication to his job that truly defines public service,” said Mayor Menino. “On behalf of the people of Boston, we offer our sincere gratitude to Lt. Fiorino and his family for a lifetime of service.”
Lt. Fiorino began his career on February 5, 1958 at the old Boston City Hospital as a medical aid on the emergency room floor. As the national emergency response system evolved around him, so too did his career. From ambulance staffer to lieutenant, Lt. Fiorino has responded to many of the city’s major incidents, including the 1973 Delta Airlines crash, the 1976 Suffolk County Courthouse bombing, the blizzard of 1978, and the simultaneous Copley and Sheraton hotel fires of 1979. Commended many times over the years, he was recently recognized by the Boston Celtics with a “Heroes Among Us” award for preventing a suicide.
“Lt. Fiorino's career has spanned significant changes in medicine and in the city itself,” said Boston EMS Chief Rich Serino. “He has tirelessly responded to Boston’s large-scale crises and to the hundreds of calls every day from residents in need. He deeply cares about the city of Boston, and dedicated employees like him are the reason that Boston EMS has received the national recognition it has.’’
Lt. Fiorino continues to work in the field today, responding to the City’s most critical incidents. He has adapted to the significant advances in medicine over the years but his core strength is the most basic of EMS skills: treating people with care, compassion, and kindness.
- BPHC -