In Memory of FDNY Firefighter and Red Cross Volunteer, Luis Fragoso (1954-2014)

Luis served as an FDNY firefighter for 18 years and was co-founder and chair of the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). The DART partnership between the Greater New York Red Cross and FDNY was formed in 1989. The team is made up of active and retired New York City firefighters and fire officers from New York City, Long Island and Metro New York North. For nearly 25 years, Luis served as "the glue" that kept DART together, deploying its members to provide disaster relief as part of the Red Cross following countless local and national emergencies. He worked both behind the scenes and in the field, having been deployed to 24 large-scale responses including the attacks on the World Trade Center Towers on September 11, 2001.

Additionally, he was honored for his dedication to our mission on numerous occasions, first as a Clara Barton Award winner in 1994 and as recently as October of last year when he and his entire DART team were recognized at our NY Red Cross Ball.

He was 59 and is survived by his four children and several grandchildren. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them during this difficult time.

Luis will be remembered as a Friend, Brother Fire Fighter, Red Cross volunteer who worked selflessly serving those in need and always as the DART leader.