By Laura Lane
Even now, it's hard for him to believe that his involvement in the fire department, which later fueled his decision to become a police officer, happened by chance.
If Luparello hadn't gone to the deli where he ran into a high-school friend, who happened to be a volunteer firefighter, well, he might be living an entirely different life.
"His beeper went off, making this noise," recalled Luparello, who was attending Nassau Community College at the time. "He ran out and put the blue light on his car, and I thought that was pretty cool. The next time when I ran into him - it was at that same place -- his beeper went off again. That time I jumped into the car and went to the firehouse with him. As I watched the firemen leave for the fire, I thought I have to get involved in this."
A few months later, Luparello, then 18, became a probationary member of the Merrick Fire Department. It was quite an undertaking for him, but he worked hard to learn as quickly as possible to be the best firefighter he could be. "It was a lot of responsibility, and you had to make the firehouse like your second home," said Luparello. "There's a lot to remember, to learn, and a lot to live up to. You know, there's so much pride in the fire department; that's what makes it a good organization."
Luparello, a lifelong Merrick resident, is the youngest of five children. His parents, Anthony and Pauline, never thought he'd be a firefighter because there weren't any firefighters in the family, and Luparello had other interests in high school.
"I played all of the sports when I went to Levy-Lakeside, Merrick Avenue Middle School and Calhoun," said Luparello. "Then I got into the On Tour Company at Calhoun. I really liked acting, building the sets -- the whole production."
Luparello enjoyed acting so much that he performed in community theater. So, as a student at Nassau Community, he was floundering a bit, unsure of what career to pursue, but then he ran into his high-school friend, and his life changed.
After 18 years in the Merrick Fire Department, he's seen his share of fires, but he can still remember his first. The fire was at the Waterside Café.
Luparello remembered that he had been "bumped off the nozzle" by a senior firefighter and told to be the backup, responsible for feeding in the line of hose. "I could see how you can get disoriented very quickly in a fire," said Luparello, who was sent into the burning building. "I couldn't see with all of the smoke, and I was at a curve in the building. When the smoke cleared, I realized how close I was to the outside."
If asked, Luparello can tell you about other fires he's responded to, how you learn from other firefighters and just how much you depend on them. "That's the brotherhood of the fire department, that you have a friend that's there with you," said Luparello. "An older member told me once, 'I won't take you anywhere I won't go; that gives you security.'"
After six years as a volunteer firefighter, Luparello took on another challenge. He became a New York City police officer. He attributes his decision to do so to the fire department.
A number of his fellow firefighters were also police officers, and they encouraged him to take the civil service test and join the force. Starting out as a uniform police officer, he soon became a plainclothes officer, working in Harlem and Washington Heights. This year, Luparello was promoted to New York City detective.
"New York City detectives are the most recognized detectives in the world," said Luparello. "But my job is stressful. The unit I'm in doesn't have set hours of work, and my son is only 2 1/2."
And being the fire chief has been challenging and demanding too. Luparello said his cell phone is always ringing because there's always something to do at the firehouse. "I found out that there's so much more going on in the department than I knew, so many behind-the-scenes activities that you need to stay on top of as the chief to keep the fire department operating efficiently," said Luparello. "And you have to be the bad guy. When you make a decision, one house may feel it's not good for them. But you know a good chief is not popular."
He was captain of Empire Hose Company in 1996 and 2000, which he enjoyed even more so than being the chief. "Being the captain is a hands-on job; he runs the firehouse and the members," said Luparello. "When you have a company that operates really well, it's the captain that's driving the men; he inspires them."
Becoming the chief was a natural progression for Luparello, though it hasn't been easy. There are three different firehouses in Merrick, which means there are three different companies and three different ways of doing things. "Anyone that says they can do this job without stress is lying," said Luparello. "But I think what made it more stressful for me is that I wanted to do a good job the way I like things to be done. When my name is attached to something, I take pride in it."
And being a husband, father, detective and fire chief has had its challenges for Luparello. "My wife, Gina, is excited about my fire chief term coming to an end on Dec. 31," said Luparello with a smile. "Family is first, but you have to go to work. It's a balancing act. Being chief, you really have to be out there, so that balancing act is difficult."
Comments about this story? Llane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
