Morristown mail carrier recognized for heroics

Assunta Nobile and hero Postal Carrier Lorenzo Clark. Photo by Maureen Denman
Assunta Nobile and hero Postal Carrier Lorenzo Clark. Photo by Maureen Denman
1
Lorenzo Clark receives certificate of commendation from post master Janice Peters.
Lorenzo Clark receives certificate of commendation from Postmaster Janice Peters. Photo by Brian LaMuraglia

By Brian LaMuraglia 

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s hero letter carrier Lorenzo Clark to the rescue.

Assunta Nobile and hero Postal Carrier Lorenzo Clark. Photo by Maureen Denman
Assunta Nobile and hero Postal Carrier Lorenzo Clark. Photo by Maureen Denman

Clark was recognized in Morristown on Friday for going above and beyond the call of duty in aiding a senior citizen who fell down and couldn’t get up.

He received a commendation from Postmaster Janice Peters signed by Mayor Tim Dougherty, and the Carrier Hero award.

It was a regular day for Clark last February until he ascended the high concrete steps to the home of Assunta Nobile, 77. From the mailbox he heard Assunta cry for help, and immediately came to her aid, calling Assunta’s son-in-law, retired letter carrier Raphael DeChiara, 62.

Originally from Morris Plains, DeChiara now resides an hour away, in Freehold.

Postal Carrier Lorenzo Clark. Photo by Maureen Denman
Postal Carrier Lorenzo Clark. Photo by Maureen Denman

DeChiara said that after Clark called, the postal carrier helped Nobile into a chair, gave her a glass of water, and asked if she needed an ambulance.

“If Lorenzo didn’t do what he did this could have been a much more dire situation. She didn’t have the arm strength to pick herself up. The fact remains that if Lorenzo, a good man, didn’t do what he did who knows what could have happened,” said DeChiara, who worked at the Morristown Post Office for 40 years.

Nobile had been on the floor for four hours prior to her rescue, said her daughter, Rose Marie DeChiara. This was her mother’s first serious fall, she said.

The woman, an avid gardener who loves tending to her plants, had knee replacement surgery some time earlier, and was not able to get back to her feet after the fall.

 

Postal Carrier Lorenzo Clark. Photo by Maureen Denman
Ralph and Rose Marie DeChiara, Assunta Nobile and hero Postal Carrier Lorenzo Clark. Photo by Maureen Denman

“Its good to know the carriers are in tuned to the community and the residents that surround. I’m glad to know Lorenzo was able to assist a customer,” said Peters.

This may be the first Carrier Hero Award for anyone from the Morristown Post Office, the Postmaster said.

Clark took it all in stride. He believes that being a member of the Doric 6 Masonic Order equipped him to respond to Nobile’s distress.

“I belong to an organization that does community service and we go out volunteering, and it’s something I adopted from my organization,” Lorenzo said.

“We are part of the community as letter carriers. You have some businesses come in, they deliver there things, then leave. We are considered part of the community. It’s like they are our neighbors. It’s what you do for your neighbors.”

Nobile is well and only sustained a few bruises and some soreness, her family said.

Assunta Nobile reunited with Postal Carrier Lorenzo Clark, November 2016.  Video by Maureen Denman

 

1 COMMENT

  1. Mr. Clark was my mail carrier for a very long time. When he was reassigned our entire neighborhood was disappointed. He was the best with his job, did it with care & concern. ALWAYS had the correct mail in the correct homes. He meet each of us with a smile everyday. This incident is just so Lorenzo!

LEAVE A REPLY