NY1.com

  58º

You are not signed in  |  Sign in here  |  Help

You're viewing a lite version of NY1.com

Time Warner Cable customers: Sign in with your TWC ID for video access.

Get my TWC ID. | Get TWC service. | Read the FAQ.

12/11/2010 12:36 PM

Ground Zero's "Singing Sanitation Man" Laid To Rest

By: NY1 News

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

Family, friends and co-workers gathered Friday to remember a singing sanitation worker who became well-known at the World Trade Center site after the 9/11 attacks.

Andrew Macchio died Monday.

Known as "The Singing Sanitation Man of Ground Zero," Macchio would sing God Bless America every Sunday at the height of the recovery efforts at the site.

At his funeral yesterday in the Bronx, Macchio was remembered as a great friend.

"He sang his words," said cousin Marie Bernero. "And he brought a lot of joy. And we thought today we should have had his tape in the church of Amazing Grace and Ave Maria – because those were his specialties."

"Drew was a character," said family friend Pat Lifrieri. "And anyone who knew him knows what I mean by that. He was one of a kind – he can never be replaced. The most generous most giving person you you ever wanted to meet."

Macchio was 64 years old.