Funeral held for Newark Fire Capt. Augusto Acabou, killed in line of duty battling cargo ship fire
NEWARK, N.J. -- It was a painful day for the families of two Newark firefighters killed in the line of duty battling a cargo ship fire.
Thursday, friends and family said goodbye to 45-year-old Augusto "Augie" Acabou.
Final respects are also being paid to Wayne Brooks, Jr. who also lost his life in the line of duty.
Acabou's funeral was held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark.
They came to the funeral to honor Acabou.
A massive American flag hung above those lined along Victoria Avenue following the motorcade. Acabou's flag-draped casket was brought in on a fire truck and taken into the Cathedral Basilica as fellow firefighters saluted. His family followed behind.
- Read More: Wake held for Newark Firefighter Augusto Acabou, killed battling cargo ship fire at Port Newark
Inside, it was a tribute to the fallen hero.
"Some people call us the bravest of the brave. When most people run out of a burning building, we run in," Acabou's best friend Eddie "Boa" Paulo said.
Paulo called the 10-year veteran of the Newark Fire Department kind and compassionate, a jokester, and said that he loved baseball, but that he loved his mother, father, brothers and lifelong partner even more.
"Cynthia, I can't even imagine what you're going through," Paulo said. "I tell you, have comfort in knowing that he adored you."
Chopper 2 FlyingChopper 2 is over the funeral of Newark Firefigher Augusto Acabou, one of two firefighters who died battling a fire in a cargo ship in Port Newark. Watch more on CBS News New York: https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/live/ Read more: http://cbsn.ws/44qS5Rw
Posted by CBS New York on Thursday, July 13, 2023
Born into a Portuguese family, Acabou grew up in Newark's Ironbound.
"They don't make them like Augie. They just don't," East Side High Coach Kevin Bullock said.
Bullock, Acabou's football coach, described how Acabou went from being a scrawny kid to a top notch player.
"That's when I realized this guy had the heart ... Augie couldn't care about himself. He cared about everybody else," Bullock said.
Bullock remembered how Acabou helped him get through cancer.
He gave Acabou's mother his Acabou's high school football jersey, number 85.
Then, Newark posthumously promoted Acabou to captain, and a bell was rung in tribute.
"There are only a few men and women that have to stand when that bell rings," Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said.
"Augie, my brother, I love you man. I am going to miss you tremendously," Paulo said.
"He was the best friend, the best worker, the best partner," Acabou's colleague Maria Pinzon said.
Acabou was laid to rest during a private ceremony.
CBS New York will live stream tomorrow's funeral service.