51 Transit Workers Honored;

51 Transit Workers Honored

By ARI PAUL

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New York City Transit awarded medals to 51 transit workers Sept. 25 for going above and beyond the call of duty.

NYC Transit Photo TRANSIT'S HEROES: New York City Transit President Howard H. Roberts (left) gave heroism awards Sept. 25 to transit workers Richard Kerimoglu (second from left), James White (center) and Andres Morales (second from right). At left in the back row is Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Roger Toussaint. The ceremony took place at the U.S. Custom House in lower Manhattan and included speeches from NYC Transit President Howard H. Roberts, MTA Executive Director and CEO Elliot G. Sander and Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Roger Toussaint.

Four Cited for Heroism

For acts of heroism, Ralph Fernandez, Richard Kerimoglu, Andres Morales and James White won medals.

Bus Operator Fernandez was driving passengers through midtown Manhattan in July when a steam pipe exploded nearby. He evacuated the passengers and assisted an elderly passenger as well, an MTA statement said.

Train Service Supervisor Kerimoglu "risked his life to rescue an intoxicated customer who was on the roadbed and very close to being electrocuted on June 16," according to NYC Transit.

The other two men were decorated for bravery off the job. The statement continued, "Bus Operator James White, while off-duty on December 13, 2006, rescued a female motorist who was in the act of being car-jacked. White wrestled and yelled at the assailant, who broke free and fled the scene. Bus Maintainer Andres Morales tackled an assailant who was in the act of robbing his girlfriend at knife point in front of their home on April 25. Though Morales was seriously injured during the incident, the assailant was quickly apprehended by the police."

The winners for distinguished service were Marvin Branch, Michael Crowder, Howard G. Daley Jr., Brian McLean, John T. O'Shaughnessy and Melvin Sussman.

Others Honored

Commendation awards went to Michael Avery, Anthony Brannock, Jaime J. Brownell, Robert Bruno, Hector Camacho, Kenneth Chauncey, Steve Chicchetti, Edwin Colon, Dennis Cronin, Robert F. Dellolio, Patrick Denson, Edward Dombowski, Jean Dume, Michael Ehling, Mario Gaillard, Harrichand Hariprashad, James Harris, Peter Houdalis, Gerard Kenniff, Anthony Lewis, Charles Marshall and James M. Massaro.

Also winning commendation awards were Lascelles Miller, Carlo Minutillo, Marvin Moore, Harold Olmeda, Richard Ortiz, Richard Poussaint, Eddie Reese, Randall Rocha, Steven J. Ruggiero, Norris Samuda, Michael Snisky, Victor Spinelli, Krishendat Sukhnanan, Blase Timpone, John Tullo, Shanette Van Dyke, Jack Watson, Jenhai Wei and Imogene Wright.