Respected local attorney, who fought hard for sick fire fighters, suffered from coronavirus
Rudy Migliore, an inductee of the Sachem Hall of Honor in 2019 and is a Sachem alumnus from the Class of 1964, has passed away. Migliore was battling coronavirus and ultimately died after suffering from a heart attack.
Migliore had shown signs of recovery after battling the virus for more than a month and was able to get off a ventilator to begin breathing on his own within the last two weeks. The virus, however, affected other parts of his body.
Migliore had been a locally recognized attorney since 1977 and he most notable for work since 1998 that has focused on asbestos, mesothelioma and lung cancer related cases.
By September of that year the first screening of retired firefighters who were exposed to asbestos was conducted – 210 men were screened and 71 tested positive. Proceedings were filed accordingly and the rest is history as Migliore helped hundreds, if not thousands, of retired fire fighters win cases based on health-related issues.
He was a member of the National Guard from 1968 to 1974. His law practice is also a community-oriented practice handling accidents, corporations, criminal matters, and subsequently asbestos and dangerous medications.
He has also served as General Counsel for the United Retired Firefighters Association, General Counsel for the Long Island Association of Retired NYC Firefighters, General Counsel to University Student Government at Stony Brook and General Counsel to Church of God New York State.
Migliore was named 2015 Man of the Year by the United Retired Firefighters Association and 2015 Man of the Year for Long Island Association of Retired NYC Firefighters.
He had been scheduled to speak with business and social studies class at Sachem High School North this spring. His memory will live on as his Hall of Honor plaque hangs proudly in the central corridor of his alma mater.
There has been no information released about memorials or services yet due to the current pandemic.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro