Vigil Honors Mother, Daughter Killed In Hazlet Fire

HAZLET, NJ — For William Montanaro, a gathering of nearly 2,000 area residents to show their support after the loss of his wife and daughter in a fire "felt like a big hug," he said after the vigil.

Montanaro's wife Jackie, and one of their two daughters, Madelyn, 6, died Saturday as a result of the fire at their home on Brookside Avenue early Friday morning.

"I never thought I'd be in a situation like this," Montanaro said at the vigil in Veterans Park Tuesday evening. "It's an unimaginable tragedy."

But in eloquent - and often humorous - recollections he told the crowd how his wife would be "embarrassed" by all the attention. She was a private person, he said. "But she would also be humbled."

After the fire, the community felt it had to do something, Mayor Michael Sachs said.

And he added that Tuesday's community candlelight vigil on a gentle night in January was a way for the family to feel the love in person.

Sachs said so many people expressed support for the family in social media posts.

"But this brings real people together," he said after the vigil.

Large photos of Jackie, Madelyn and their beloved dog Duchess, who also perished in the fire, were set up in the gazebo. Soft, recorded music was playing. The mayor spoke first, then police chaplain Pastor Barry Mulligan of Hazlet Bible Church.

Peter Santoro, a longtime friend of Jackie Montanara's from her job as a Customs and Border Protection supervisor spoke to the gathering, as did her father, Joe Autera. Then her husband spoke. "Amazing Grace" was sung by a Raritan High School student as candles were lit, neighbor to neighbor, sharing the light.

Mulligan reminded those gathered that "nothing can prepare us for tragedy," but people "find support through grieving together."

Santoro recalled the fun times he and Jackie Montanaro had. "We were married the same year and we became parents at the same time," he recalled.

He said she was a true first responder - courageous in her job.

Jackie's father told those gathered that their very presence showed "the impact one person could have on the world."

Autera said Jackie loved to tell long stories - and had so many stories she did not have time to tell.

He asked the crowd to take her story and Madelyn's forward with them and use the tragedy "to make a difference."

When it was William's turn, he spoke not only of the love and admiration he had for his wife, but of his love for Mady, the daughter he lost, and for Elena, his eight-year-old daughter who survived and who was with him at the vigil.

He said he was looking forward to coaching both sisters in soccer, a game they loved, when Mady was to have joined the program in the spring.

Each daughter "has their mother" running through them, Will, as he is called, said.

Mady's "infectious smile" was everywhere in photos. Elena has the strength of her mother, Montanaro said.

As they drove home from the hospital that Saturday, he said she told her dad, "We're going to make it." And he said he has vowed to be there for Elena in every way.

The Montanaro family will now hold viewings at Holmdel Funeral Home for two days. Funeral services are on Friday.

Montanaro, who spoke to media after the vigil, praised the generosity and kindness of the people in the community.

Hazlet's private RAINE Foundation prepared refreshments served at the James J. Cullen Community Center after the vigil. The organization has helped him buy whatever he has needed since he lost everything in the fire, he said. The foundation and other organizations are accepting donations for the family.

And he said he was deeply grateful for the firefighters, emergency medical personnel and police who responded that night.

Reminding him of his wife's role, he said first responders deal with tragedy every day and have the courage "to do the work we can't do." He said they deserve everyone's gratitude.

One item of clothing Montanaro now is wearing is a cap from the Customs and Border Protection agency his wife worked for.

Large CBP letters are embroidered on the cap.

"I'll be wearing this for a long time," he said.