“My brother John and I lived together for the last three years, and during that time our mother had become very ill. John and I decided it would be best to have her come live with us so we could provide the care she needed. It was a very difficult time for our family, but John was constantly by her side, helping any way he could.
After her passing my brother and I would talk about all the things she had done for us throughout our lives. My brother and I would talk every morning and every evening. Sometimes it would just be a few words and sometimes it was a in-depth conversation, but he was always there to listen.
The most difficult thing for me in his passing is that I won’t be able see him walk into the house with that devilish smile on his face or be able to talk to him in the evening or give him a kiss goodbye.
John was a happy and gentle soul. He was the type of person who would help anyone that needed it. It didn’t matter if it was putting a roof on a friend’s house or helping to raise money for one of the many organizations he belonged to. He was always there for anyone that needed him.
This tragedy has devastated our family, as I know it has for all the families. There is a huge hole in my heart that will never be filled, I will miss him forever.”
– Sandy Aughtmon, sister of John Fiore
“Hello. I’m Chelsey Hartman, John Fiore’s granddaughter. I’m eleven years old, and in 6Th grade. 3407 had a huge influence on my life. It caused me a great deal of sorrow, because of this I keep thinking of things he’ll never be able to be a part of in my life. Now my grandfather won’t be around to watch me graduate high school, or he wont be there to walk me down the aisle. I will miss his sarcastic funny ways. Now who’s going to help me take the skins off the cucumbers so the salad is right?
I’m writing you this so you know my grandfather wasn’t just a face who was on the plane; he was a laughing, living, and caring human being who’s life was taken away in a horrible tragedy . Every night I go to sleep dreaming about how much things we COULD of done, and how much things we WOULD of done. Just regretting all of the things we didn’t do together that we could. Now that he is gone its just too late, I have a lot of memories with my grandpa like him taking me to the Erie County fair and riding the elephant with me. My grandpa was a caring person, who was always there to help. He was so caring, when I was playing baseball he helped the kid on the OTHER team how to bat. He never missed one game. I’ll really miss him. I hope the FAA can do WHATEVER they can in their power to make sure it never happens again. Nobody should ever go through as much pain and sorrow as my family and the other victims family’s went through.”
Chelsey Hartman – Granddaughter of John Fiore