During the devastating Superstorm Sandy, Joseph Filipowicz tragically lost his life along with his twin brother. Despite being warned to evacuate, Joseph’s last words were, “I’m not leaving Daddy.” Hours later, their bodies were found in the basement, still holding onto each other after being covered in 12ft of water within seconds of Sandy’s strike. This heartbreaking story highlights the incredible bond between father and son. The deaths of Joseph and his father, John Filipowicz, were just two of the 19 fatalities on Staten Island due to the superstorm.
The Filipowicz family resided on Fox Beach Avenue, one of the hardest hit streets on Staten Island. John, who served as a firefighter during 9/11, decided to stay behind and protect his home despite warnings to evacuate. His son, Joseph, refused to leave his side, demonstrating the depth of their connection. Their bodies were eventually discovered by John’s brother, Neil Filipowicz, who had been searching for them after not being able to reach them during the storm.
Neil described the heart-wrenching moment of finding their bodies, with John’s arm protectively holding his son. The family was devastated by the loss of both a husband and father. John’s wife, Christine, expressed her grief and shared that John was her rock.
The tragedy of the Filipowicz family is just one of many stories that emerged from Superstorm Sandy. The storm caused a total of 108 deaths across the United States. Staten Island, in particular, suffered a high number of fatalities, including the heartbreaking loss of young children who were swept away by giant waves.
This devastating event serves as a reminder of the power and destructiveness of natural disasters and the importance of heeding evacuation warnings. The Filipowicz family will forever be remembered for their love and sacrifice.
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