PO Robert Fazio

Officer Robert Fazio was killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, while attempting to rescue the victims trapped in the World Trade Center.

He was assigned to the 13th Precinct.
Officer Fazio had served with the New York City Police Department for 17 years, and is survived by his parents and sister.

He was posthumously awarded the New York City Police Department’s Medal of Honor for his heroic actions.

HERO COP’S BODY FOUND IN RUBBLE

January 6, 2002

The body of a cop who twice entered the flaming World Trade Center in a daring bid to save as many people as he could was uncovered amid the towers’ twisted rubble yesterday.

The remains of 13th Precinct Officer Robert Fazio were found by workers between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. and positively identified several hours later. Fazio’s body is the seventh to be recovered of the 23 NYPD officers lost Sept. 11.

According to accounts of that tragic day, Fazio, 38, was among the first officers on the scene, rushing into the north tower minutes after it was struck by a hijacked airliner.

He came out and went back in again before disappearing in the tower’s collapse along with partner Moira Smith, 38, the only female NYPD officer lost in the attack.

A heart-wrenching memorial service was held for Fazio on Nov. 7. Now friends and family must once again gather to say good by to the 17-year police veteran, who is survived by his parents, Robert and Fay, and younger sister, Carol Lovero.

A funeral Mass is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre.

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This profile was originally published in 2001/2002

Robert Fazio loved two things, his job and fast machines. “He loved cars and motorcycles … fixing them and having them,” said Carol Lovero, his sister.

It was his love for them — he owned a pickup and a Harley-Davidson bike — and his helpful disposition that others knew the 41-year-old New York City police officer for, his sister said.

It was not unusual for him to change the brakes on a neighbor’s car or to help someone stuck on the side of the road because their car broke down. “He would always go out of his way to help others,” she said. “I can’t count the times he helped me out. But never asked for help back.”

A 17-year police veteran, Fazio was the community officer at the 13th Precinct on East 21st Street, where he spent the majority of his career. He grew up in South Hempstead and graduated from South Side High School in Rockville Centre in 1978. Recently, he lived near the water in Freeport, where he could be close to his other passion — boating.

Fazio was on his regular tour with another 13th Precinct officer, Moira Smith, when they spotted the first plane hitting the towers. Smith called in the information, and then she and Fazio headed back to the nearby precinct to interview witnesses. Within the hour, they were at the site of the World Trade Center, where the two officers were last seen before the buildings collapsed. — Stacey Altherr View Robert Fazio Jr.’s guestbook