On February 1, 1957, my father, Mario DeRosa was one of the 95 passengers on board Northeast Airline flight 823 that crashed at Rikers Island in NYC just one minute after takeoff.

He was one of the 20 unfortunate victims who lost their lives on that tragic day. Coincidentally, this accident occurred on his son Anthony’s 8th birthday. My brother was supposed to accompany dad on this trip to celebrate his birthday but became ill the night before and mom wouldn’t let him go.

Dad was an executive with Pope Food Products, a business founded by his father, Michele DeRosa. He was 37 years old when he died. He left behind his wife, Rose, and 4 children, Margaret, Catherine, Michael, and Anthony.

His survivors also included his parents, Concetta and Michele, and 4 siblings (Umberto, Thomas, Alfred, and Delia). His family eventually grew to 15 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Flowers placed at at Rose and Mario DeRosa's wall vault stone in Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale, Feb. 1, 2007.

Ironically, my father was scheduled to fly on Eastern Airlines at 6 PM, but decided to change his flight so his parents would not have to pick him up so late at the airport.

The Eastern flight was cancelled, as were all other flights that day, except for Flight 823.

The passengers sat on the runway for almost 3 hours until 6 PM when it took off of runway 4 at Laguardia Airport. At 6:01PM, Flight 823 crashed on Rikers Island.

This was a nightmare my family will never forget. At the time of the crash, mom was at the Criterion Theater in Manhattan watching Cecil B. Demille's "Ten Commandments." My brothers and sister and I were at home. We saw a bulletin on TV, but thought nothing of it, since dad’s plane was scheduled to depart at 3 PM.

Mario and Rose DeRosa's four children together after the commemorative services Feb. 1, 2007: from left, Michael, Margaret Fidaleo, Catherine Pallman and Anthony.

Mario's brothers (my uncles) came to our house on Tomlinson Ave. in the Bronx at around 8 PM.

They told us that they believed that Mario was on the plane that crashed.

The police were then notified to go to Manhattan to the theater to find my mother.

Due to the terrible storm that evening, mom did not get home until after midnight. By this time, my family had already learned that my father was killed. At 3 AM, Northeast Airlines called my house and said that Mario DeRosa was a survivor. For 24 hours, the family was unsure of his fate.

Rose DeRosa was a widow at 35 years old. She later died, in 1973, at the young age of 52.

On February 1st, 2007, the family of Mario DeRosa held a memorial service to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his death. Forty family members attended, coming from as far away as Las Vegas and Arizona.

Click image for Part III of this presentation.

The family met at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, NY to visit his gravesite. A mass was held at Immaculate Conception Church in Eastchester and a luncheon followed. It was a beautiful ceremony that my family will never forget. It brought back great memories of the lives that dad touched in so many ways during his short time here on earth! We all miss and love you so very much, Dad!