2007.05.18: May 18, 2007: Headlines: Staff: History: Putnam County Courier: Inferno destroys home owned by Peace Corps founder William Haddad
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2007.05.18: May 18, 2007: Headlines: Staff: History: Putnam County Courier: Inferno destroys home owned by Peace Corps founder William Haddad
Inferno destroys home owned by Peace Corps founder William Haddad
"Haddad was a founder of the Peace Corps. In addition to serving the Kennedy brothers in their political campaigns, Haddad was Mario Cuomo's campaign manager in his first successful run for New York governor."
PCOL Comment: Founder: (noun) a person who founds or establishes [Origin: c.1330, from O.Fr. fondrer "submerge, fall to the bottom," from fond "bottom," from L. fundus "bottom, foundation"]. Bill Haddad was one of the founders of the Peace Corps along with Henry Ruess, Hubert Humphrey, Brien McMahon, Richard L. Neuberger, Maurice Albertson, Warren Wiggins, William Josephson, Harris Wofford, Bill Moyers and many others with a host of inspirations including the IVS, the Experiment in International Living, the IDPA, Point 4, the Thomasites and Plato, according to some. John F. Kennedy and Sargent Shriver also had something to do with founding the Peace Corps.
Inferno destroys home owned by Peace Corps founder William Haddad
Inferno destroys home owned by Peace Corps founder William Haddad
By: Eric Gross
05/18/2007
PATTERSON-Smoke was visible for miles around when a raging inferno destroyed a large Colonial-style home owned by William Haddad, a founder of the Peace Corps and one time confidante to former President John F. Kennedy and his brother Bobby Kennedy.
The blaze broke out Tuesday afternoon around 2:45 p.m. at the residence located on Manor Road in a cul-de-sac near the Patterson-Pawling town line.
Patterson firefighters under the command of Chief Frank Smith found a raging inferno when arriving on the scene and calls went out for mutual aid. The Pawling Fire Department sent manpower and equipment along with Lake Carmel, Putnam Lake, Brewster and Carmel Fire Department personnel. Other companies that included Mahopac, Dover and East Fishkill manned fire stations to cover for agencies out in the field. Ambulances were also summoned along with paramedics.
Firefighters used water brought to the scene by tanker trucks. In addition to pouring tons of water on the remains of the 4,500 square foot home, firefighters fought a stubborn brush fire caused by sparks being carried by strong winds that blackened three acres of land adjacent to the residence.
No one was home when the fire broke out. Doreen Haddad said she and her daughter had left the home a half hour before to attend a function at the Matthew Paterson Elementary School where her grandchild attends. "I received a call that the house was on fire and by the time we returned-a few minutes later-it was gone. I can't believe my eyes," she said.
Robert Haddad, 18, also rushed to the scene after receiving a call. "The flames were shooting high into the air when I arrived. Everything is gone including our dog," he said.
Shorty, a dachshund, a cat and several parakeets perished in the inferno.
William Haddad was returning from a business trip to Europe at the time of the tragedy.
Haddad served as CEO of Schein Pharmaceutical, one of the world's largest generic companies. He initiated and negotiated the Drug Price Competition and Patent Restoration Act. Haddad is also known for helping to organize the team leading to the reducing of AIDS drug prices in Africa from $12,000 a year to less than a dollar a day.
Haddad was a founder of the Peace Corps. In addition to serving the Kennedy brothers in their political campaigns, Haddad was Mario Cuomo's campaign manager in his first successful run for New York governor.
Haddad has won dozens of awards over the years. He was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize as a reporter and investigative editor for the New York Post and the former New York Herald Tribune. While employed for the Tribune, he exposed the tetracycline cartel resulting in fines of $200 million and the eventual collapse of the cartel.
Fire crews remained at the scene until after dark. Several firefighters were overcome by smoke and heat exhaustion and were treated at the scene.
Cause of the fire remains under investigation by Brewster State Police and the Putnam County Fire Investigation Team.
Also assisting were members of the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Patterson Fire Police Unit under the command of John Bodor, Putnam Commissioner of Emergency Services Robert McMahon and Deputy Commissioner Adam Stiebeling, Deputy Emergency Coordinator Cris Dellaripa and a representative of the Putnam Bureau of Emergency Services.
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Story Source: Putnam County Courier
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