Firefighter Laid To Rest

The casual chatter filling Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Westfield fell silent just after 10 a.m. Friday morning. As the church bells tolled to signal the new hour, bag pipes could be heard approaching, leading a solemn procession through the rain down Westfield Avenue.

The crowd’s attention went to the door, as a flag draped casket was carried inside by a group of Westfield firefighters, performing one last act of brotherhood for their friend and fellow Westfield firefighter, Danny Maglione.

Maglione, 41, of Ocean Road, died Tuesday afternoon following a 15-month battle with a rare form of cancer.

Rev. James Moran, parochial vicar of Holy Trinity, welcomed the Maglione family to the church. An American flag was removed from atop the casket and laid on the back pew.

Moran used his homily to talk to the Maglione family and to remember Maglione’s accomplishments.

“You can live to be 99 and do nothing or you can live to be 41 and live, truly live,” Moran said, recounting Maglione’s accomplishments. “Wow, what a life. There was no waste of time.”

In addition to 12 years as a firefighter, Maglione had been a Westfield police dispatcher and rescue squad member. He had a landscaping business, was a drummer, taught drumming, coached football and softball in Piscataway and was an avid motorcyclist. Maglione continued to teach drumming as his illness progressed. Maglione was cited for bravery during his career.

Maglione’s younger brother, Anthony, eulogized his brother.

“Growing up as the youngest offers a certain perspective on an older brother,” Anthony Maglione said. “I idolized my brother. As a boy he was a hero.”

Anthony Maglione said his brother succeed in everything he did, including athletics, heavy metal drumming, firefighting and being able to make just about anything. 

“He was proud to be a fireman,” he said. “You were his family and you are our family. He was proud of everything he dedicated himself to.”

Outside the church,  firefighters lined up in their dress uniforms, saluting. Bagpipes played in the background. The casket was placed on top of a yellow fire engine in preparation for the journey to a cemetery in Wall. 

Maglione's casket was taken on one last drive through the town he served. The procession stopped in front of the fire station, where firefighters from Elizabeth and Rahway, who were covering Westfield, stood at attention paying one last tribute.

Maglione is survived by his wife, Katie Maglione; two teenage daughters, Mariesa and Tallia; parents Daniel and Kathryn; brother, Anthony; and sister, Lisa Maglione-Chenault.