Family, friends and first responders came out in full force to give a hero’s goodbye to West New York EMT and Pennsylvania firefighter Roberto Claros at the Garden State Crematory in North Bergen yesterday.
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After a visitation at the Jorge Rivera Funeral Home in North Bergen, first responders from Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, Cliffside Park, West New York, Weehawken, Penn Forest Township, Pennsylvania – where Claros, 28, was a volunteer firefighter – and many others paid their respects at the Garden State Crematory just a few blocks away.
As part of the service, Roberto’s wife Melissa, a Weehawken EMT, was presented with an American flag and a firefighter helmet as part of the service before his ceremonial last call.
After the call, she also received the name off of his firefighter jacket. The Penn Forest Township firefighters also honored Claros with the ringing of the bell from the old call box.
The mood took an even sadder turn when it was time for Claros’ colleagues to remember him in a few words.
West New York Office of Emergency Management Coordinator William Bringas recalled the love of his family, his great sense of humor, desire to help others and how the loss still feels unreal: revealing that he still texts his close friend and colleague “hoping this is just a horrible nightmare.”
Claros suddenly passed away on Father’s Day due to complications from surgery.