RIP Police Officer Anthony Varvaro

Tony Gutierrez. Shutterstock Images.

SILIVE.com - STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A local baseball legend who pitched in the Majors before becoming a Port Authority police officer died Sunday morning in a vehicular crash in New Jersey, the Advance/SILive.com has learned.

Anthony Varvaro, 37, leaves behind a wife, four children and countless members of the Staten Island community who expressed shock and devastation hours after learning the news.

Authorities confirmed Sunday that Varvaro was killed in a head-on collision by a wrong-way driver on the New Jersey Turnpike Hudson Bay Extension, near the Holland Tunnel. Emergency crews responded to the scene around 4:25 a.m., according to a spokesman for New Jersey State Police.

“It’s a tragedy,” said John Eberlein, a friend of the family who coached Varvaro at Curtis High School. “He was a better person than baseball player, and he was a great baseball player.”

A spokesman for New Jersey State police did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.

Following Varvaro’s death, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey issued the following statement.

“Officer Varvaro represented the very best of this agency, and will be remembered for his courage and commitment to service,” according to a written statement issued on behalf of Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole and Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton.

This story was told to me over the phone Sunday morning when a friend called. He heard the news through a group chat from little league parents from Snug Harbor Little League where his son plays. Anthony Varvaro was recently named the president of the Little League. 

Varvaro was a natural choice for the position given his excellent career at Curtis High School, St.John's and then the MLB where he spent time with the Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, and Boston Red Sox. In 2016, Varvaro gave up his professional career as a pitcher to join the Port Authority Police. The decision was highlighted in a short ESPN video. 

Staten Island is a small place, so names with athletic success ring out and get recognized fairly easy. I never met Anthony, but I knew immediately about his professional career. Then I learned about him voluntarily ending his career in the bigs, to join the Port Authority, that he was volunteering at Little League, and by all accounts a great guy. Anyone who knew him or met him told me he made time to talk baseball with anyone who asked, and was always willing to share a story about his time playing. 

He married his high school sweetheart, and leaves behind 4 children all under the age of 8 years old. At the wake this week his children were seen wearing his old West Shore Little League jerseys. 

Absolutely horrible story for a guy who was revered by his coworkers and his community. It goes without saying, but Anthony's life should be remembered by all the people he touched , as well his volunteer work in the community. I cannot imagine the heartache his wife, children and family are suffering. 

The Port Authority reached out, and Barstool was willing to help , as they always have to create a line of merchandise aimed at assisting his family through this horrible time. As always , a thank you to Erika, Dave, and the merchandise team for always assisting help to first responders and their families. 

Please consider a purchase in memory of Anthony. 

" Fairness doesn't govern life and death if it did no good person would ever die young." - Mitch Albom