[News]Wake for Staten Island boy killed in fire
 

picture of him & yorkie here
http://blog.silive.com/firstglance/2..._and_more.html


by Staten Island Advance Tuesday December 18, 2007, 4:57 PM

Advance photo/Irving Silverstein
The 9-year-old boy who died trying to save his pets as a fire tore through his Staten Island home was laid to rest today in a white casket with a stuffed lizard and several soccer jerseys resting nearby.

Family and friends of Thomas Monahan, of Prince's Bay, paid their respects today during his wake at Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home in Tottenville.

The boy was killed when he ran upstairs to save his Yorkshire terrier and lizard during the blaze at his families home on 49 Princewood Ave. His parents and younger sister were safely outside when the father realized his son was trapped.

Fire investigators believe it was a faulty extension cord in the basement ceiling that sparked Sunday's deadly blaze in the 1920s-vintage Tudor




THOMAS MONAHAN, 9
Kind beyond his years, 4th-grader loved animals
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
By JOHN ANNESE
ADVANCE STAFF WRITER
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- At just 9 years old, Thomas (Tommy) P. Monahan V was a dedicated environmentalist who loved animals and had an insatiable curiosity about nature.

Whether it was checking under rocks for salamanders or racing to see a snake caught by one of his friends, the Prince's Bay youth was steadfast in his passions. So much so, that instead of saving money for trading cards or video games, Tommy collected his spare cash in a coffee can labeled "Help Save Dogs and Cats -- Animal Hosting Center ASPCA."


He didn't spend it on anything. That's the kind of kid he was," said his grandfather, Thomas P. Monahan.

Tommy, a fourth-grader at PS 36 in Prince's Bay, died early Monday morning at Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, succumbing to injuries he suffered in a fire at his home on Sunday night.

Tommy enrolled every year in an "Earth camp" program sponsored by the Staten Island Museum. He relished leading fellow campers as they hunted for Native American artifacts, fossils, snakes, frogs and horseshoe crabs.

He would often volunteer for environmental cleanup work for the Pleasant Plains, Prince's Bay and Richmond Valley Civic Association, and he held animal charities near and dear to his heart. His cherished his Yorkshire terrier, Sophie, who also died in the fire.

Tommy learned his love of nature from his parents. "They just raised him to respect the environment. He had a heart of gold for animals," said his grandmother, Patricia Monahan. "He respected them and knew everything there was to know about them."

Tommy played soccer in an under-11 recreational league for St. Joseph-St. Thomas R.C. Parish. He also had played for an under-9 Staten Island United travel soccer team, his family recalled. Tommy also loved watching World War II movies and military movies in his spare time.

"Our little angel Tommy was the most curious, adventurous little boy who loved the animals and earth with such vigor," his grandparents said in a handwritten statement. "The first thing Tommy did when he came to our house was lift every rock in the yard in search for salamanders.

"Grandma will miss his loving hugs and healthy appetite, and Grandpa will miss reviewing their favorite coins and answering his nature questions, and his trips to Lemon Creek."

Tommy's family members are asking mourners to send donations in his name to the Staten Island Animal Care Center at 3139 Veterans Rd. West, Staten Island, N.Y. 10309.

"He wanted to take care of homeless cats and dogs," his grandfather said.

In addition to his paternal grandparents, surviving are his parents, Maria and Thomas P. Monahan III ; a stepbrother, Kevin T. McCue; a stepsister, Ashley E. McCue; a sister, Gabrielle G. Monahan, and his maternal grandmother, Gloria Badalamenti.

The funeral will be Thursday from the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, Tottenville, with a mass at 11 a.m. in St. Thomas Church, Pleasant Plains. Burial will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.

How terribly sad!! He sounds like such a great kid!! I guess God needed another Angel.

So very sad :sad: Sending prayers to his family....

that is soooo sad!! my heart goes out to his loved ones!! :( ill keep them in my prayers!! what a sad story..thats horrible!! :(

so sad:cry:

That's so sad:(

:cry: That just breaks my heart :cry: What a precious little boy. I hope they buried him with his beloved Yorkie.

:hands: Prayers for his family :hands:

:( Oh, this is so sad! His poor family!!

oh goodness.. poor babies.. all of them.. how horrible... that is a horrible way to die.. .

how sad....

How sad for the family. This brought tears to my eyes...

My heart goes out to his family :( What a precious angel he is. He's in heaven now with his little Sophie, I'm sure..

The photo link didn't work for me, so here's a link to an article with the picture.

prayers
 

My prayers and love to the family. There is no pain as great as the loss of a child. Pray for strength and try to take some consulation in knowing he is in a better place. That has helped me in the loss of two children

What a horrible tragedy! :cry8:

What a brave little boy, My heart goes out to the family of this special lil angel. He's taking care if all the animals on rainbow bridge:(

That is so heartbreaking. My thoughts and prayers go out to Tommy's family. The Yorkie, Sophie, he was trying to save also perished in the fire. Here is a story that Tommy wrote about Sophie.

The spelling and grammar are not perfect, but that means the words are straight from a young boy's loving heart and therefore right in a way no grownup could make them.

The title inscribed on the cardboard cover of his handmade book is:

"MY DOG SOPHY"

Below the title are numerous bones such as a dog would love and then the author's name:

"Thomas Monahan."

The first page bears a dedication:

"To my mom and dad the #1 parents."

The story begins on a page ringed by bones. An illustration shows a smiling boy throwing a bone for a delighted, perky-eared terrier as unique to him as the spelling of her name.

"One day, me and my puppy were playing fetch. Her name is Sophy. I held her at night. The next day me and Sophie woke up. I went to school and my mom stayed with Sophy. When I got back she was gone.

"My mom said Sophy was at the vet. I said Sophy is at the vet. I got sad. I thought she would get hurt. When I was going there I wondered what happened to her."

The next page is ringed by what would be smiley faces, but the mouths are a straight line of concern. The illustration shows a similarly concerned boy holding up both hands as if wondering what was going on as he stands beside a group of dogs.

"When I got there I saw four dogs. I saw one walking out on a leash. He was fine. I felt a little better.

"A werker brought me in a room with dogs and puppies. I saw Sophy. She was sleeping. The vet took her out of the cage. The vet said we can't feed her until tomorrow. The vet said she'll probly throw up."

An illustration shows a stack of cages with four dogs. The top cage on the right is marked "Sophy" and inside is the small, perky-eared dog, the legs bowed, the mouth a slightly squiggly line.

"The next day Sophy didn't look better. After a week she started runing a little more. The next day she was back to normal. I felt a lot better. So did Sophy."

The happy ending is followed by a note about the author on a page ringed by smiling faces.

"Hi my name is Thomas. I'm the auther of this book. I have a question for you. Do you like soccer? Well I love it. I had many pets. I had 2 crabs 5 fish and you guess it Sophy. ..I was born in 1998 and my birthday is Aug 29th. I'm 8. What about you?"

That is followed by several illustrations of a happy and healthy Sophie. The drawing on the back cover made a mourner smile even as he stood by Thomas' open casket on Wednesday evening.
Here is the link to the book: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007...s_bond_th.html

oh this is so sad. What a brave boy he was

God bless this little boy. What a big heart he had, may he rest in peace. Prayers for his family. :(

What a courageous little boy to run into a burning house to save his animals. Yes, he must be taking care of all the animals at the Rainbow Bridge.

:( :( OMG this is sooooooo sad!!!! AND he was so young!!!! how tragic.... :( :( he sounded like a GREAT kid... may he RIP..