When Captain Ed Sadler passed away in November 2011 at age 95, he was already a living legend on City Island.
Now, part of the street where he was born and lived for his entire life will be memorialized as “Ed Sadler Way.”
The City Council approved the intersection of east Schofield Street and City Island Avenue to be renamed in Sadler’s honor in a vote on Wednesday, May 22.
“Ed Sadler was a man who truly knew what it meant to work hard and give back to his community,” said City Councilman James Vacca, who sponsored the legislation. “When you talk about Ed Sadler, you’re talking about a man who was involved in every activity possible in City Island and a true student of its history.”
Sadler stayed active in his island community for his entire lifetime after a 35-year career with the fire department, with more than 30 of those years as a marine pilot in the FDNY marine division.
After retiring from the FDNY, Sadler served as president of the City Island Historical Society, which runs the City Island Nautical Museum, and remained active in the City Island Civic Association.
He was also a leading voice during a three-year fight to save the island’s FDNY Ladder 53, frequently quoting from when he was a fire cadet, one of his instructors always saying that an engine company is only as good as a ladder company which does the forcible entry into a building.
“I am proud to say that I had the privilege of working with Ed over the years and he was a major influence in the fight to keep City Island’s Ladder 53 open,” said Vacca.
Once the legislation is signed into law by Mayor Bloomberg, Vacca will join Sadler’s family and friends at a street naming ceremony later this year.
“He truly loved City Island and its rich maritime history,” said Sadler’s son Dick. “As a proud clam digger (City Islander by birth), born and raised in his family home on City Island, he would be truly honored by this recognition.”
Patrick Rocchio can be reach via e-mail at procchio@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 742-3393
