By Ann Marie Barron
Staten Island Advance, N.Y.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — In honor of the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation has delivered mortgage-free homes to the families of nine fallen first responders who served in New York, including one Staten Island family and the family of two former residents of the borough.
The nine mortgages were among 20 delivered by the Staten Island -based not-for-profit organization on this occasion.
Among the recipients of the mortgage payouts are the families of NYC Department of Corrections Capt. Gennaro “Jerry” Cariello, of Great Kills, Correction Officer Jonathan Latta, a native of West Brighton, and firefighter Robert Welsh III, a former Staten Islander.
“It has been 23 years since America was attacked; New York is still feeling the impact as the heroes who participated in the rescue and recovery effort lose their lives to 9/11-related illnesses,” said Frank Siller, chairman and CEO of the foundation and a Westerleigh resident. “The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has vowed to “Never Forget’ the heroes, like my brother FDNY Firefighter Stephen Siller, who gave up their lives on 9/11 and will continue to support the families who lose their loved ones to these devastating diseases.”
Capt. Gennaro ‘Jerry’ Cariello
Cariello joined the New York City Department of Corrections in 1989. He worked in the Harbor Unit and at the Brooklyn Correctional Facility before joining the Emergency Service Unit.
He spent a month at Ground Zero before being appointed to oversee the 9/11 recovery effort at the Fresh Kills Landfill, where debris was being transported.
He died on Nov. 15, 2023, from 9/11-related cancer, leaving behind his wife, Johann Cariello, and their children.
“Tunnel to Towers has helped our family beyond words,” Johann Cariello said. “Our family can now stay in the home where Jerry and I raised our children … Tunnel to Towers has given us the support and relief of financial stress, allowing our family to focus on rebuilding.”
Jonathan Latta
Latta worked at the New York City Department of Corrections at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center for nearly a decade. He died in the line of duty on March 5, 2016, according to his online obituary.
A lifelong Staten Islander, he left behind his wife, Kristina, and three children. Before his death, he had taken the captain’s exam, and Kristina received the notification that he had been accepted after her husband lost his life.
Tunnel to Towers provided Kristina and her children with a mortgage-free home at the Tunnel to Towers Let Us Do Good Village in Land O’Lakes, Florida.
Tunnel to Towers’ support has delivered stability to Kristina and her family, his widow said.
“I will no longer have to worry about having the money to support my family,” she said.
Robert Welsh III
Welsh began his career with the NYPD and was a 9/11 first responder.
He served the NYPD for five years before joining the FDNY, where he spent 15 years serving New York City.
He lost his life to 9/11-related cancer on Aug. 18, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and their three children.
Tunnel to Towers paid off the mortgage on the family’s home in Millsboro, Delaware.
The families of the following New York first responders also received a mortgage-free home from the foundation:
—NYPD Officer Emanuele Alongi
—New York State Police Maj. Rodrick Covington
—United States Park Police K9 Officer Edwin R. Jimenez
—Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Peter Egan
Two of the families from the New York area requested anonymity.
Born from the tragedy of the loss of Stephen Siller, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation carries out its mission to “do good,” by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children, and by building specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.
Tunnel to Towers is also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America Never Forget Sept. 11, 2001, the organization stated on its website.
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