Island firefighter saves swimmer in Mexico

Joseph Larstanna, a lifelong Staten Islander, has been a firefighter with the FDNY for 20 years and is assigned to Ladder Co. 168 in the Bath Beach section of Brooklyn.

His colleague Giuseppe DiStefano reached out to us to publicize Joseph’s selfless act of bravery, knowing full well that Joseph would never toot his own horn.

Giuseppe says he and Joseph were vacationing at Live Aqua Resort in Cancun, Mexico, with Joseph’s wife, Giuseppe’s girlfriend and two other couples early last month. The Larstannas were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary and another couple’s recent marriage. Plus, all simply needed to get away.

Two days into the vacation, Joseph went out for an early-afternoon swim while the others were lying on the sand soaking up the rays. Alerted by faint cries for help, one of the friends spotted a couple who had fallen prey to rip tides.

The vacationers yelled to get Joseph’s attention — they knew he’d been trained in water rescue.

Joseph, who had been on the point of leaving the water, dived right back in and swam toward the woman as the lifeguard on duty headed for the man.

“He reached for the female victim, turned her around and pulled her to shore,” said Giuseppe. Both husband and wife were saved.

Joseph was modest about his act of bravery, as are most firefighters. After all, it’s all in a day’s work.

Angels come in many forms — and the Russo family know it better than most.

While Teri’s House, a Pleasant Plains residence for young men with Down syndrome, continues to be a work in progress, Teri tells us her angels come in the form of an attorney and his family: Steve and Theresa Mandracchia, who not only donated to the effort financially but took on the role of liaison with all construction trades involved in the project.

Also to be acknowledged are the family of Brian and Helen Daly, who have financed more than 50 percent of the cost of building the home, in addition to neighbors like Anne and Brian Larsen, who showed up on weekends and worked diligently with the Russo boys behind the scenes. Teri says they even put up a Christmas tree and decorated the outside of the house when Damian Russo became a little depressed at holiday time.

Julio Rivera painted the entire interior of the house and took on many odd jobs to keep the endeavor moving along and helped the family move in time for the Christmas.

Thanks to folks in the building trade like Paul Toth, who has been carting debris away since day one; to Casa Concrete, which donated all the concrete, stone and block; Kevin Radigan of the Concrete Depot; to Alan Becker of Trades Construction, who took over the project when the original contractor failed; to Lenny Rampulla of Rampulla Architects, who donated not only the drawings but many hours of time; to Alexandria Fernandez of DNA design, who donated her time with the interior of the home; to Richmond Tile for their ceramic tile; to Pete Battista of Details Moulding for molding and trim; to JPR lighting for the high hats; to Shamrock Paints, which either discounted and/or donated paint; to Total Fire Protection for fire extinguishers and a complete first aid cabinet; to Duo Plumbing, to AJ Caruso Electric and to Staten Island Kitchen Cabinets, who continued working not knowing whether or not they would be compensated.

And although there’s still work to be done and funds needed to complete the project, Teri’s aware of several individuals and companies who planned to donate but couldn’t because of tough economic times.

Teri explains they are very grateful to all the angels who have gotten involved — and for the donations — both big and small — that made Teri’s House a reality.

“This house will be a home to many disabled adults long after all the Russos are gone,” says she, before adding, “It is a home where individuals with disabilities can grow old and live with dignity and have all their needs taken care of.”