The caption of the article says it all. Officer Anthony Fantacone, my father to whom this book is dedicated, singlehandedly saved 12 people. The story goes that he ran out of the burning house with 2 babies – one under each arm, placed them down and ran back into the burning house to free 10 other individuals who were trapped inside. Anthony Fantacone sustained burns on his hands and one eye of which he had sustained some permanent loss of sight.
Officers Irving Holly, Robert Estell and Anthony Fantacone aided by civilians James Roberts of Belleville, and James Reidy of Newark, NJ to save a 13 year old girl trapped in the attic of a burning house in Belleville, NJ.
Officers Anthony Fantacone and Kenneth Place of Belleville, NJ Police Department respond to a call about a fire at 151 Main Avenue, Belleville and rescue the family of four which included two children – ages 4 and 2 years old.
Born and raised in Belleville, NJ, Donna Fantacone moved and currently lives in Clifton for over 25 years. She worked full time at a Fortune 50 company for over 20 years while going to school part time to obtain her English Degree from William Paterson University, while raising her son. Donna has always been involved in Safety. She was a Lifeguard in her early college days and has always been a first responder and a Corporate Safety Health and Environment Officer. Her function was to be an emergency first responder while also identifying safety options for a campus of over four thousand people. Her main interests in college were English and Elementary Education. She was also a Cub Scout Leader while raising her son who became an Eagle Scout. Donna is Red Cross Certified in CPR, AED, and First Aid and Children’s First Aid. She’s also a Rutgers Certified Master Gardener, and part time volunteer educator for City Green, Clifton, NJ. Donna aspires to educate our youth in basic safety principles. She is the daughter of a retired police officer, Anthony Fantacone. Officer Fantacone was always a good Samaritan. Anytime the need arose and often times while out of uniform, Anthony Fantacone stopped to help anyone who was in need. She explains “Many times we were the first ones on the scene of accidents on the Garden State Parkway.” My father would never pass up anyone in need of help, just as any good Samaritan would do.” Anthony holds many letters of commendation, including "Citizen of the Year" for heroic actions while police officer, detective, and PBA President of Belleville, NJ. Donna dedicates this book to her father, Anthony Fantacone.