Jersey City, New Jersey (WABC) – A former Major League Baseball player, who later became a Port Authority police officer, was killed in a wrong-way crash near the Holland Tunnel while on his way to duty at the September 11 concert at the World Trade Center on Sunday.
Honors are flowing to 37-year-old Anthony Farvaro, who grew up in Westerly on Staten Island and played six seasons of professional baseball after an outstanding college career at St. John’s.
After stints with the Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves and the Boston Red Sox, Farvaro retired in 2016 and joined the Port Authority Police Department.
The accident occurred at about 4:25 a.m. in the New Jersey Turnpike Hudson Bay Extension East at No. 6.7, in Jersey City, where police say Henry Plazas, 30, of Bridgewater, was traveling west in the eastern lanes when he hit the face For the face of the Nissan Maxima from Farvano.
Both drivers were killed.
St. John’s baseball team captain Mike Hampton said he was “a word of loss” over Farvaro’s death.
“He wasn’t just everything you wanted from a footballer, he was everything you wanted in anyone,” said Hampton, who was assistant coach at St. John’s during Farvaro’s three seasons there. “My heart goes out to his family, friends, colleagues and fellow officers.”
Port Authority officials said in a statement that Farvaro “exemplified the best of this agency and will be remembered for his courage and commitment to service.”
“On this solemn occasion, as the Port Authority mourns the loss of 84 employees in the World Trade Center attacks – including 37 members of the Port Authority Police Department – our grief only deepens today at the death of Officer Farvaro,” the statement said. Written by Port Authority President Kevin O’Toole and CEO Rick Cotton.
Farvaro was drafted by Seattle in the 12th round in 2005, and played for the Mariners in 2010 and the Braves from 2011 to 2014.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of former brave shooter Anthony Varvaro,” the Braves said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and colleagues.”
He was traded to the Red Sox in late 2014 and pitched 11 runs to Boston early in the 2015 season. In May 2015, the Chicago Cubs demanded that he give up Boston, but he was sent back to the Red Sox after testing showed he had sustained an elbow injury in his right arm, Resulting in end-of-season surgery.
For his major league career, he made 183 runs in 166 games, collected 3.23 earned run averages, 150 strikes and one shooter.
In 2016, he made 18 appearances for Boston’s top minor league team before retiring in June and beginning his police training.
Farvaro, who studied criminal justice at St. John’s University and graduated in 2005, told student newspaper The Torch in December 2016 that he inquired about port authority police jobs while participating in majors.
“I thought my career was very successful in baseball,” he told the newspaper. “I’ve played a number of seasons, and I was fine to move on to the next step in my life.”
Port Authority officials said Farvaro became a police officer in December 2016 and was on patrol for nearly five years before transferring to the Port Authority Police Academy to become an instructor.
He also worked with Little Leaguers.
“We are saddened to announce the passing of our President, friend, coach, husband and father, Anthony Farvaro,” said Sailor’s Snug Harbor Little League. “The Snug Harbor LL community is deeply saddened by the loss of Anthony. Not only was Anthony the boss, he was a wonderful person. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.”
He leaves behind a wife and four children.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
Related | 9/11 after 21 years: Reflections, images and stories
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