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Commack fire victim remembered as 'sweet lady'

BY JESSE COZZETTI | jesse.cozzetti@newsday.com

5:22 PM EDT, July 31, 2008

Grace Spadaro, who died in a fire in her Commack home (July 31, 2008)

Amato Stanco and his wife, Karen, used to wake up each morning and look across their Commack street to see their 88-year-old neighbor sitting by her living room window watching their children play -- a fond memory of a woman who is now gone.

Grace Spadaro, known in the neighborhood as "Grandma," died Wednesday in her home after her clothes caught fire while she cooked. Suffolk investigators have ruled Spadaro's death an accident.

Spadaro lived with her son-in-law, Anthony Iovino, and his wife Cheri, 50. Spadaro continued to live with Iovino after his first wife, Spadaro's daughter, died seven years ago.

Police said Spadaro's housecoat apparently caught fire as she was doing some baking about 1:55 p.m. Wednesday.

"The lady was cooking something, muffins, and likely a towel that she uses as a potholder caught fire and then caught her clothes on fire. Definitely an accident," Det. Sgt. Edward Fandrey said yesterday.

Spadaro made her way to a bathroom and threw off the housecoat, spreading the fire, Iovino said Wednesday.

Cheri Iovino, who was downstairs, told police that she was alerted to the danger when her dog started barking. When she found Spadaro in flames, she tried to put out the fire with her hands, her husband said. She was hospitalized with minor burns. Spadaro was pronounced dead at the scene.

Yesterday, Iovino and his wife could not be reached for comment.

Their neighbors on Sparton Lane recalled a woman who loved to cook and share food with others.

"It's a tragic ending to a beautiful woman," said Stanco, 42.

Spadaro, who drove a car until 18 months ago, shopped almost every day at the supermarket, according to Stanco.

"Cooking was a passion of hers. She always brought over typical Italian dishes," he said.

Jim Reed, 62, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1960, remembers Spadaro baking banana muffins for him to take to his father in a nursing home.

"She was a sweet lady," Reed said.

Stanco said Spadaro suffered a heart attack and stroke before her death.

"She has been through a lot in her life with all her illnesses," Stanco said. "She didn't deserve this."

Doug Gresh, 19, whose family moved into the area when he was 4, said Spadaro and the Iovinos were always friendly.

"They always talked to our family to make us feel comfortable in the area," Gresh said.

Staff writer Sophia Chang contributed to this story.