Grief for Steven Mosiello, 9/11 responder

Close friends, family members, and those who worked with him gathered in Farmingdale Monday to pay respects to FDNY fire marshal Steven C. Mosiello, 58, who died Friday of cancer in Melville.

Visitors embraced and spoke with Mosiello's family in an almost nonstop procession Monday at McCourt & Trudden Funeral Home on Main Street. Some wrote messages in a guest book and picked up laminated cards with a fireman's prayer on the back and a photo of a laughing Mosiello in his FDNY cap and fireman's jacket on the front.

The funeral Mass for Mosiello is Tuesday at 10:45 a.m. at St. Kilian Roman Catholic Church, 485 Conklin St., Farmingdale.

Ginger Mosiello, his wife of 23 years, said the day had been "busy" with visitors, including FDNY firefighters in full uniform, two of whom stood at either end of Mosiello's open coffin, where he rested dressed in a suit and tie.

Mosiello had been the right-hand man to former New York City Fire Department Chief Peter J. Ganci Jr., who was killed when the south tower of the World Trade Center collapsed during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Mosiello, too, was a first responder. The following month, Mosiello was diagnosed with esophageal cancer that the FDNY classified as presumed to be linked to the 9/11 aftermath, during which he worked at Ground Zero.

He died Friday morning at the Hospice Inn in Melville.

In addition to his wife, Mosiello is survived by sons Steven Mosiello II and Ryan; daughters Nicole and Alexandra; brothers Michael and John; and a granddaughter.

Tom Gunnip, funeral director at McCourt and Trudden, said FDNY Fire Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano is expected at the funeral, as is Fire Department chaplain Monsignor John Delendick, who will offer the Mass. Gunnip said Mosiello's funeral is expected to draw 500 to 1,000 attendees.

"It could be even more," Gunnip said. "Steve knew that many people."