By Rich Bockmann
The Douglaston Fairway will honor the memory of a fallen NYPD officer by donating a portion of its sales this Thursday to a scholarship fund established for the four daughters he left behind.
Officer Peter Figoski, 47, was shot in the face Dec. 12 while aiding colleagues responding to a home invasion in Brooklyn. He was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he died from his wounds. The police said they have arrested five suspects in the officer’s murder.
The NYPD set up The Peter Figoski Scholarship Fund to ensure his daughters — Christine, an undergraduate at SUNY Oneonta; Caitlyn, an undergraduate at SUNY Plattsburgh; and Carolyn, and Corinne, both high school students in West Babylon, L.I. — are not deprived of pursuing their college educations.
“We, along with the City of New York, mourn the death of Officer Figoski and extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and the members of the NYPD,” said Susan Birnbaum, New York City Police Foundation President and chief executive officer. “In this tragedy, the New York City Police Foundation considers it a privilege to be able to provide this Fund to the family of Officer Figoski.”
Fairway will donate 10 percent of all sales between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. Jan. 5 from its Douglaston location, at 242-02 61st Ave., as well as from two others — one in Red Hook, Brooklyn, and another in Plainview, L.I.
“What Officer Figoski did to save other lives was heroism at its finest,” said Howard Glickberg, chief executive officer of Fairway Market. “To be able to honor this heroism by participating in some small way to the well-being of his family is a privilege for all of us at Fairway.”
As of Friday, nearly $1.7 million had been donated to the fund since its creation.
Thousands of police officers turned out Dec. 19 in Babylon, L.I., for the funeral of the slain officer, who was a 22-year department veteran.
“Christine, Caitlyn, Caroline, Corinne: As the father of two daughters, I understand the bonds you shared with your dad — and how much you miss him now,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at Figoski’s funeral.
The mayor pledged his and the NYPD’s support to Figoski’s family, and announced the officer had been posthumously promoted to the rank of Detective First Grade.
Donations to the fund can be made by mailing a check to the Peter Figoski Scholarship Fund, c/o NY Police Foundation, 555 Fifth Ave., 15th Floor, New York, NY 10017 or by credit or debit card at nycpolicefoundation.org.
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
