STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Tuesday, Oct. 28, began like any other day for Prince’s Bay resident Vincenzo Fortunato.
The 35-year-old dad of two went to work as an electrical technician for a moving company. His typical day soon turned tragic, however, when Fortunato was fatally injured on the job, his wife, Erin Pianforte, told the Advance/SILive.com.
Now, she is searching for answers.
Fortunato was fatally injured on the job in Queens, his wife said.Courtesy of Erin PianforteThe fatal day
According to Pianforte, who is pregnant with the couple’s third child, Fortunato and a crew were unloading Masonite boards from a truck when several fell on top of him.
“Vinny sustained a fatal frontal lobe injury,” Pianforte, 37, told the Advance/SILive.com.
She noted how hard the father worked, “trying so hard to provide for us.”
Fortunato was described as an easygoing and deeply caring partner who was completely devoted to his family.Courtesy of Erin Pianforte
Fortunato had been searching for different employment in the months before his death, said Pianforte. On the morning of the accident, her husband had spoken to a friend about joining the local plumbers union.
According to the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Fortunato’s cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. The office ruled the manner of death to be an accident.
She said she is in the process of speaking with attorneys as she considers her options moving forward.
The Advance/SILive.com reached out to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which investigates workplace incidents, but did not receive comment by the time of publication.
Family struggling with loss
Born in Brooklyn, Fortunato settled on Staten Island in July after buying a house in Prince’s Bay with Pianforte.
“It was a brand new thing, our house was different for him because we have the pool and everything,” Pianforte said. “He was taking care of everything and was very proud of it. It was something that he wanted to do for me.”
Fortunato was a devoted and playful father who enjoyed playing sports, swimming and spending quality time with their kids, 10-year-old Isabella and 5-year-old Shawn, said Pianforte. The couple was preparing to welcome a baby boy next April.
The baby will be named Vincenzo Fortunato III, said Pianforte.
“He was so happy. It was a surprise; he really wanted a boy and was overjoyed when we found out the gender,” Pianforte recalled through tears. “He was already so excited about the baby that he had started buying things for him.”
The children are now struggling with the unexpected loss of their dad.
“My 5-year-old son says he misses him so much. He sees me cry and then will start to cry himself but tries to stop it,” Pianforte said.
“Our daughter is sad but is going back to school. I plan to get her into therapy, as this is a profound loss for her. Every little thing he did with them was special because of how much they loved him.”
Family and friends remembered Fortunato’s kindness and sense of humor, which they say left a lasting impression on all who knew him, according to a Colonial Funeral Home obituary.
Fortunato exuded warmth, and had a special ability to make people smile, said his widow. In addition to spending time with his family, he enjoyed listening to music, watching sports, collecting sneakers and playing video games.
“He was just very easy and simple. He was different from anyone I had ever been with before. He just always made me feel like there was nothing I could do wrong; I had never felt perfect until I was with him,” Pianforte said. “After I became pregnant, he was even more attentive and wouldn’t let me do anything. All he cared about was his family and making sure we were taken care of.
“If I could go back to when Vinny was here, I would just sit with him more and love him more,” she added. “I’d stop worrying about making everything look so perfect.”
Vincenzo ‘Vinny’ Fortunato (upper right) was a devoted and playful father, actively involved in playing sports, swimming, and spending quality time with his children 10-year-old Isabella (bottom) and 5-year-old Shawn (middle right), according to wife Erin Pianforte (middle left).Courtesy of Erin Pianforte
Fortunato is survived by his wife, Erin; his children Isabella, Shawn; his mother, Calogera; and his brother, Giovanni. He was predeceased by his father, Vincenzo Fortunato Sr.
A GoFundMe page has been established, with a goal of $45,000 to help to support the children’s education and provide long-term stability.
Fortunato’s visitation was held on Nov. 2, and his funeral Mass was held the following day at St. Charles R.C. Church in Oakwood.
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