Timothy Fiori

Timothy Fiori, 66, of Grasmere, a retired FDNY firefighter, an exceptional athlete who starred in baseball and football for Monsignor Farrell High School and Wagner College and who will be remembered as a fierce competitor on the field, and a compassionate and caring family man and friend in everyday life, died Tuesday at home.

The lifelong Grasmere resident was a 1967 graduate of Monsignor Farrell, where he played football and baseball and led his teams to Island championships in both. A 1966-67 Advance All-Star, he never lost a game as a varsity pitcher and his two-year record was 14-0.

He then spent a year at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, L.I., where he also played football, before returning to the Island and playing football for three years and baseball for two at Wagner College, Grymes Hill, from 1968 until 1971. From 1965 until 1973, he also played baseball for Cedric's T-M Major championship team.

Mr. Fiori later obtained his bachelor of science degree from the College of Staten Island, Willowbrook.

He first worked as an administrative aide for the NYPD at the North Shore's 120th Precinct in St. George, from 1973 until 1980, when he went to the city Sanitation Department for three years.

Mr. Fiori's career with the FDNY began in 1983, and from then until 1999 he was assigned to Engine Co. 249/Ladder Co. 113 in Brooklyn. He retired from Ladder Co. 87 in Annadale in 2001.

He had been working part-time as a ranger at Silver Lake Golf Course and had also tended bar at the Kev-Inn and Elm Park Inn.

Mr. Fiori coached East Shore Little League for many years, winning the Island championship in 2004.

He enjoyed playing golf and was a member of the North Shore Golf Club. He also was fond of fantasy baseball and was commissioner of the Kev-Inn League.

But his two big sports loves were always Tom Seaver and the New York Islanders.

Mr. Fiori lit up a room and could make everyone smile and laugh with his wonderful sense of humor. He had a big heart and tried to take care of everyone, family said. He loved his close-knit family and was still mourning the death of his sister, Ellen Fiori-Roche, four months ago, they added.

He was a parishioner of Holy Rosary R.C. Church, South Beach.

Surviving are his wife of 27 years, Mary Ellen Bray-Fiori; his sons, Timothy and Joseph; his daughters, Kaitlyn and Jennifer Fiori, and his sisters, Susan Fiori-Twomey and Ann Fiori-Hackenjos.

The funeral will be Saturday from the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, Tottenville, with a Mass at 9:30 a.m. in Holy Rosary Church. Arrangements include cremation.

Services: Holy Rosary RC Church Saturday, February 13, 2016 9:30AM

Visitation: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Thursday, February 11, 2016 7-9PM & Friday, February 12, 2016 2-4 & 7-9PM

Cemetery: Rosehill Crematory

Location: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home

Church: Holy Rosary RC Church