Former FDNY Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta Dies At 83

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Former New York City fire commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta died Thursday of cancer. He was 83.

"We are saddened at the passing of our beloved father after a long illness that he fought so bravely," his children, Eric and Andrea, said a statement. "To all of his endeavors he gave himself fully, with a devotion and passion commensurate with the love and support he had as a husband, father and grandfather. We miss him – and we always will."

Scoppetta served as FDNY commissioner from 2002 to 2010 under Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Before that, Scoppetta was commissioner of the city's child-welfare agency during the administration of Rudolph Giuliani.

Scoppetta also served as deputy mayor and commissioner of investigation.

In recent years, Scoppetta worked with his charity, New Yorkers for Children, helping foster children as they age out of the system. Scoppetta spent several years in foster care as a child.

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Mayor Bill de Blasio called Scoppetta "a dedicated and brilliant civil servant" who led "the FDNY through it darkest days'' following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"New York City is better today because of Nick Scoppetta, and our heart goes out to his family and friends," de Blasio said.

The mayor ordered all flags to fly at half-staff across the city in honor of Scoppetta.

"Scoppetta was instrumental to rebuilding the FDNY during a time of unimaginable loss and devastation," FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigor said. "The department is stronger today thanks to his leadership in the years following September 11th. He was truly a public servant without peer, and we deeply mourn his loss."

Former FDNY Commissioner Sal Cassano said Scoppetta took over the department when it was in mourning.

"He was the right person at the right time to help guide us in recovering from not only the physical effects, the psychological effects," Cassano, who succeeded Scoppetta as commissioner in 2010, told 1010 WINS. "He helped rebuild the department in the worst of our times."

"He was more than a coworker to me, he was a friend, he was almost like a brother to me," Cassano added. "New York lost a great New Yorker today."

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