Gennaro A. Fischetti, 81, of Silver Lake, a decorated World War II veteran, attorney, author and retired commissioner of the state Crime Victims Board, died yesterday in New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn.
Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Fischetti joined the U.S. Army's 34th Infantry Regimental Combat Team of the 24th Infantry Division as soon as he finished high school. The private first class saw action in Biak Island and Hollandia, New Guinea, and at Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro and Bataan in the Philippines. He was wounded during a volunteer mission at Zig Zag Pass near Olongapo, where the Japanese inflicted heavy casualties on American troops.
Mr. Fischetti was awarded the Bronze Star.
After his discharge, he resumed his education, earning his bachelor's degree from St. John's University, and his law degree at St. John's University School of Law, both Brooklyn. Admitted to the New York State Bar in 1952, he steadily crafted a strong professional résumé.
Mr. Fischetti served as assistant district attorney for Kings County before becoming a judge for 22 years with the Workers Compensation Board, then headquartered in the World Trade Center.
He became a member of the state Crime Victims Board in 1984 and served as chairman from 1995 to 1996. He retired as commissioner in 1998.
Mr. Fischetti changed policy at the Crime Victims Board after the 1996 explosion of TWA Flight 800 off Long Island, making victims of terrorist actions eligible for compensation. He also streamlined procedures for those who were victims of crimes in the workplace.
In a prophetic episode, he testified before the state Senate Standing Committee on Labor on Sept. 11, 1974, noting "deplorably unsafe" fire-safety conditions in Tower 2 of the World Trade Center.
After his retirement, Mr. Fischetti served as an assistant district attorney, pro bono, at the Brooklyn district attorney's office.
He and the former Luise Nicolais wed on July 26, 1953, in St. Peter's R.C. Church, New Brighton. The couple settled in Silver Lake after their marriage.
Two years ago, Mr. Fischetti published his own book, "Reflections of a Dogface," which contained vignettes about his childhood in Brooklyn and recollections of the war in the Pacific Theater.
He was a member of the Richmond County Bar Association, where he served on the grievance committee, as well as Assumption Council, Knights of Columbus, and the Cespino-Russo Post, American Legion, South Beach.
Mr. Fischetti served on the boards of the Italian Club of Staten Island Foundation; Mount Manresa Jesuit Retreat House, Fort Wadsworth and the New York State Organ & Tissue Transplant Council.
He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church, Tompkinsville.
In addition to his wife of 52 years, Luise, surviving Mr. Fischetti are his three daughters, Nancy Bhupathi, Mary Parelli and Elizabeth Collins, and five grandchildren.
The funeral will be Saturday from the Harmon Home for Funerals, West Brighton, with a mass at 9:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery, West Brighton.
Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Fischetti joined the U.S. Army's 34th Infantry Regimental Combat Team of the 24th Infantry Division as soon as he finished high school. The private first class saw action in Biak Island and Hollandia, New Guinea, and at Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro and Bataan in the Philippines. He was wounded during a volunteer mission at Zig Zag Pass near Olongapo, where the Japanese inflicted heavy casualties on American troops.
Mr. Fischetti was awarded the Bronze Star.
After his discharge, he resumed his education, earning his bachelor's degree from St. John's University, and his law degree at St. John's University School of Law, both Brooklyn. Admitted to the New York State Bar in 1952, he steadily crafted a strong professional résumé.
Mr. Fischetti served as assistant district attorney for Kings County before becoming a judge for 22 years with the Workers Compensation Board, then headquartered in the World Trade Center.
He became a member of the state Crime Victims Board in 1984 and served as chairman from 1995 to 1996. He retired as commissioner in 1998.
Mr. Fischetti changed policy at the Crime Victims Board after the 1996 explosion of TWA Flight 800 off Long Island, making victims of terrorist actions eligible for compensation. He also streamlined procedures for those who were victims of crimes in the workplace.
In a prophetic episode, he testified before the state Senate Standing Committee on Labor on Sept. 11, 1974, noting "deplorably unsafe" fire-safety conditions in Tower 2 of the World Trade Center.
After his retirement, Mr. Fischetti served as an assistant district attorney, pro bono, at the Brooklyn district attorney's office.
He and the former Luise Nicolais wed on July 26, 1953, in St. Peter's R.C. Church, New Brighton. The couple settled in Silver Lake after their marriage.
Two years ago, Mr. Fischetti published his own book, "Reflections of a Dogface," which contained vignettes about his childhood in Brooklyn and recollections of the war in the Pacific Theater.
He was a member of the Richmond County Bar Association, where he served on the grievance committee, as well as Assumption Council, Knights of Columbus, and the Cespino-Russo Post, American Legion, South Beach.
Mr. Fischetti served on the boards of the Italian Club of Staten Island Foundation; Mount Manresa Jesuit Retreat House, Fort Wadsworth and the New York State Organ & Tissue Transplant Council.
He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church, Tompkinsville.
In addition to his wife of 52 years, Luise, surviving Mr. Fischetti are his three daughters, Nancy Bhupathi, Mary Parelli and Elizabeth Collins, and five grandchildren.
The funeral will be Saturday from the Harmon Home for Funerals, West Brighton, with a mass at 9:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery, West Brighton.
Gennaro A. Fischetti, 81, of Silver Lake, a decorated World War II veteran, attorney, author and retired commissioner of the state Crime Victims Board, died yesterday in New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn.
Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Fischetti joined the U.S. Army's 34th Infantry Regimental Combat Team of the 24th Infantry Division as soon as he finished high school. The private first class saw action in Biak Island and Hollandia, New Guinea, and at Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro and Bataan in the Philippines. He was wounded during a volunteer mission at Zig Zag Pass near Olongapo, where the Japanese inflicted heavy casualties on American troops.
Mr. Fischetti was awarded the Bronze Star.
After his discharge, he resumed his education, earning his bachelor's degree from St. John's University, and his law degree at St. John's University School of Law, both Brooklyn. Admitted to the New York State Bar in 1952, he steadily crafted a strong professional résumé.
Mr. Fischetti served as assistant district attorney for Kings County before becoming a judge for 22 years with the Workers Compensation Board, then headquartered in the World Trade Center.
He became a member of the state Crime Victims Board in 1984 and served as chairman from 1995 to 1996. He retired as commissioner in 1998.
Mr. Fischetti changed policy at the Crime Victims Board after the 1996 explosion of TWA Flight 800 off Long Island, making victims of terrorist actions eligible for compensation. He also streamlined procedures for those who were victims of crimes in the workplace.
In a prophetic episode, he testified before the state Senate Standing Committee on Labor on Sept. 11, 1974, noting "deplorably unsafe" fire-safety conditions in Tower 2 of the World Trade Center.
After his retirement, Mr. Fischetti served as an assistant district attorney, pro bono, at the Brooklyn district attorney's office.
He and the former Luise Nicolais wed on July 26, 1953, in St. Peter's R.C. Church, New Brighton. The couple settled in Silver Lake after their marriage.
Two years ago, Mr. Fischetti published his own book, "Reflections of a Dogface," which contained vignettes about his childhood in Brooklyn and recollections of the war in the Pacific Theater.
He was a member of the Richmond County Bar Association, where he served on the grievance committee, as well as Assumption Council, Knights of Columbus, and the Cespino-Russo Post, American Legion, South Beach.
Mr. Fischetti served on the boards of the Italian Club of Staten Island Foundation; Mount Manresa Jesuit Retreat House, Fort Wadsworth and the New York State Organ & Tissue Transplant Council.
He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church, Tompkinsville.
In addition to his wife of 52 years, Luise, surviving Mr. Fischetti are his three daughters, Nancy Bhupathi, Mary Parelli and Elizabeth Collins, and five grandchildren.
The funeral will be Saturday from the Harmon Home for Funerals, West Brighton, with a mass at 9:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery, West Brighton.
Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Fischetti joined the U.S. Army's 34th Infantry Regimental Combat Team of the 24th Infantry Division as soon as he finished high school. The private first class saw action in Biak Island and Hollandia, New Guinea, and at Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro and Bataan in the Philippines. He was wounded during a volunteer mission at Zig Zag Pass near Olongapo, where the Japanese inflicted heavy casualties on American troops.
Mr. Fischetti was awarded the Bronze Star.
After his discharge, he resumed his education, earning his bachelor's degree from St. John's University, and his law degree at St. John's University School of Law, both Brooklyn. Admitted to the New York State Bar in 1952, he steadily crafted a strong professional résumé.
Mr. Fischetti served as assistant district attorney for Kings County before becoming a judge for 22 years with the Workers Compensation Board, then headquartered in the World Trade Center.
He became a member of the state Crime Victims Board in 1984 and served as chairman from 1995 to 1996. He retired as commissioner in 1998.
Mr. Fischetti changed policy at the Crime Victims Board after the 1996 explosion of TWA Flight 800 off Long Island, making victims of terrorist actions eligible for compensation. He also streamlined procedures for those who were victims of crimes in the workplace.
In a prophetic episode, he testified before the state Senate Standing Committee on Labor on Sept. 11, 1974, noting "deplorably unsafe" fire-safety conditions in Tower 2 of the World Trade Center.
After his retirement, Mr. Fischetti served as an assistant district attorney, pro bono, at the Brooklyn district attorney's office.
He and the former Luise Nicolais wed on July 26, 1953, in St. Peter's R.C. Church, New Brighton. The couple settled in Silver Lake after their marriage.
Two years ago, Mr. Fischetti published his own book, "Reflections of a Dogface," which contained vignettes about his childhood in Brooklyn and recollections of the war in the Pacific Theater.
He was a member of the Richmond County Bar Association, where he served on the grievance committee, as well as Assumption Council, Knights of Columbus, and the Cespino-Russo Post, American Legion, South Beach.
Mr. Fischetti served on the boards of the Italian Club of Staten Island Foundation; Mount Manresa Jesuit Retreat House, Fort Wadsworth and the New York State Organ & Tissue Transplant Council.
He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church, Tompkinsville.
In addition to his wife of 52 years, Luise, surviving Mr. Fischetti are his three daughters, Nancy Bhupathi, Mary Parelli and Elizabeth Collins, and five grandchildren.
The funeral will be Saturday from the Harmon Home for Funerals, West Brighton, with a mass at 9:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery, West Brighton.
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