Community News

Town Honors Massapequa Hockey Coach, Residents For Lifesaving Actions

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and the Oyster Bay Town Board recently honored Massapequa Middle School Hockey Head Coach, Vice President of the Islander’s High School Hockey League, as well as two fathers of players on the Massapequa team for their remarkable actions that saved the life of a retired FDNY firefighter battling 9/11 cancer.

During a play-off game between Massapequa and Locust Valley, Donald McCullough suffered cardiac arrest. Coach Sean Kilgus, of Massapequa, jumped into action and began to perform CPR alongside Christopher Stack and Gordon Madden, both of Massapequa Park and fathers of boys on the team. Vincent Papasodero, of Massapequa Park and Vice President of the Islander’s High School Hockey League, retrieved the AED, and its shock along with CPR helped the patient begin to breathe on his own. He was transported to the hospital where he underwent double by-pass surgery and received a pacemaker implant.

“The combined efforts of these courageous men saved the life of a treasured grandfather, father and 9/11 hero,” said Supervisor Saladino. “Incredibly, all four men involved in this rescue are professional first responders. We cannot thank our first responders and men and women in uniform enough; you are invaluable.”

Coach Sean Kilgus is an FDNY Lieutenant, Christopher Stack and Gordon Madden are both FDNY Firefighters, and Vincent Papasodero is an Operations Director with Northwell Health as well as an NYPD Detective.

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