Officer Anthony Varvaro was about to report for duty at the World Trade Center headquarters on Sunday morning when he was involved in an automobile accident On New Jersey Turnpike close to the Holland Tunnel and killed.
Anthony Varvaro, a former major league baseball player who was working as a police officer in New York City, passed away in a car accident on the New Jersey Turnpike on September 11, 2022. He was 37.
On a day that remembers one of the most difficult times in the history of New York City’s uniformed police officers, the native of Staten Island will be missed by his wife, their four children, his teammates, and his brethren.
Before beginning his illustrious collegiate career at St. John’s University in Queens, Varvaro made his mark as a standout athlete at Curtis High School, where he excelled in both baseball and football. During his junior year at St. John’s, he was recognized as an All-American. As a result of this accomplishment, the Seattle Mariners selected him in the 12th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft.
In 2010, while playing for the Mariners, Varvaro made it to the major leagues for the first time. He remained there through 2015, playing for the Atlanta Braves and the Boston Red Sox. In 2015, he bravely underwent a second Tommy John operation, and the following year, after a gruelling period of rehabilitation, he pitched again.
After completing the 2016 season in the lower levels, Varvaro decided to quit hoping for another opportunity and instead pursued a different career path over the offseason. The hurler felt it would be irresponsible of him to pass up the chance to become a member of yet another elite brotherhood. It was time for Varvaro to wear a different uniform after making 166 appearances in the Major League Baseball over the course of six seasons and earning more than $2 million in salary.
During an interview with the Torch in 2016, Varvaro stated, “I kind of felt like my body was breaking down a bit, and I felt like my career may have been coming to an end.” “I most likely could have played for a little bit longer, but at that time, an opportunity with the Port Authority Police Department became available.”
Since December 2016, he has been employed by the Port Authority in the capacity of a transit officer. Additionally, Varvaro maintained his involvement in the community, and in 2021, he was elected to the presidency of the Snug Harbor Little League.
The following statement was made by the Port Authority in the wake of his passing on behalf of Chairman Kevin O’Toole and Executive Director Rick Cotton.
“Officer Varvaro represented the very best of this agency, and will be remembered for his courage and commitment to service.”
