What A Way To Start The Day

Posted on January 3, 2015 | 16 Comments

Westport firefighters don’t look for glory. They just do their job — and they do it very, very well.

Joe Valiante is retired, after 35 years of service. But the native Westporter continues to help.

Joe Valiante

Joe Valiante

On Wednesday morning he sat in the Commuter Coffee Shop, waiting for his wife and grandchild.

A customer abruptly went outside. His wife followed.

Then she raced back in, asking if anyone knew the Heimlich maneuver.

Joe gave a few quick thrusts, and dislodged a large piece of a roll.

The man and his wife thanked Joe. He went back inside. His wife and grandchild arrived.

“It was a good way to start the day,” Joe says simply.

No. It was a great, life-saving way.

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16 responses to “What A Way To Start The Day”

  1. Cathy Romano | January 3, 2015 at 2:12 pm |

    Once a fireman always a fireman. Great job Joe!

  2. Mary Ann Valiante DeVries | January 3, 2015 at 2:25 pm |

    It’s not just being at the right place, at the right time. It’s also knowing what to do. Great job Joe!

  3. Barbara Valiante | January 3, 2015 at 2:29 pm |

    Way to go, Joe….Thank God for you…

  4. Jeanie Romano Gurnari | January 3, 2015 at 2:35 pm |

    Go Joe Joe ! Great job!

  5. Dominick Romano | January 3, 2015 at 2:45 pm |

    Perfect response. Great job, Joe.

  6. Ann Marie Flynn | January 3, 2015 at 2:46 pm |

    Wow! Joe you made very, very many people joyous over your quick thinking and being able to save a life. May there always be some one on hand to assist you if help is ever needed……

  7. Fran Stamand | January 3, 2015 at 3:10 pm |

    That’s our Joe—always there for every body

  8. Vince Bufano | January 3, 2015 at 3:28 pm |

    I have known Joe for a long time I am not surprised by his quick life saving action Great Start to 2015 Great Job.

  9. Bonnie Scott Connolly | January 3, 2015 at 3:53 pm |

    Thank God for people like this.

  10. Bonnie Stiskal Wolk | January 3, 2015 at 5:28 pm |

    Donna’s Dad, I am not surprised by your quick action. You and your family are very kind, special people, who always think of others first.

  11. Angelo Veno | January 3, 2015 at 5:40 pm |

    I’ve known joe since boyhood and he always been there when some one needs help.Great Job Joe.

  12. Mary Palmieri Gai | January 3, 2015 at 5:48 pm |

    Joe is my sister in law’s brother. About 25 years ago we were all eating at Arcudi’s. Joe’s son Joey was about 10-12 years old and started choking. Joe asked his son if he was alright and Joey shook his head no. Joe did not need to do the maneuver that time because the Joey was able to cough it up, but man, you should have seen the lightening fast, controlled reaction from Joe Valiante the dad and Joe Valiente the fireman. What a good man. Happy 2015. xoxo

  13. Terry Santella Anzalone | January 3, 2015 at 6:54 pm |

    Great job Joe!!!

  14. Jay B. Paretzky | January 4, 2015 at 9:31 am |

    Great job and we all love a success story. To learn how to save a life, Hands-Only CPR, obstructive airway management ( like Joe just did) and how to use an AED ( we have close to 200 here in Westport), go to westportems.org click on Training for our schedule. We can also come to you for these short free life saving skill training

  15. Milissa Gorman | January 4, 2015 at 10:43 am |

    Great job Joe!

  16. Louis Gagliano | January 4, 2015 at 8:13 pm |

    That has been Joe and his attitude to helping people for many years, that is why we who know him call him a friend.

    Lou Gagliano