Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Snow contributed to Steinway Mansion owner's demise

From the Huffington Post:

On Dec. 27, the day the great blizzard of 2010 was winding down, Michael wasn't feeling well. Someone called 911 that afternoon. The Steinway Mansion sits atop a high hill on 41st Street. Even on bright sunny days, the road, if you can even call it that, isn't the easiest to navigate.

When help didn't come quickly on Dec. 27 and Michael continued to have trouble breathing, it was decided that he needed to be driven to the hospital. As he was being walked to the car, he collapsed outside the mansion's magnificent wrought-iron gate.

Someone ran for blankets to cover Michael as he lay on the frosty, snow-covered ground. Again, 911 was called.

When the paramedics arrived some 40 minutes later -- they came in an SUV, not an ambulance -- Michael was not responsive. They carried him into the house and placed him under the motorized crystal chandelier that's as big as a hearse.

"I worked on him under the chandelier," one of the paramedics said. "It looked like something from Phantom of the Opera. It moved up and down. It was spooky and surreal. There were dogs barking, and I saw a suit of armor and a brass telescope and marble statues as I was intubating him."

All efforts failed and at 6:55 p.m. on Dec. 27, the official time of death, Michael left this world just as he intended. He was a victim not only of a heart attack but also of the blizzard. Immediate help undoubtedly would have given him more of a fighting chance, but it might have cheated him out of his destiny.

"I've done countless cardiac arrests in my career," the paramedic said. "If this had been a regular, routine day without the snow delay, he'd probably still be walking around."

The two-day wake was held in the mansion's front parlor, where the light of the giant chandelier cast the shadow of a smile on Michael's face.

23 comments:

-Joe said...

The Feds are on the way criminal probe and some enemas for the Mayor according to tonight's Drudge Report.

Anonymous said...

God rest his soul, at least he died in the home he loved and not in a hospital surrounded by tubes and machines.

Anonymous said...

Bloomberg's body count keeps growing.

Anonymous said...

I feel bad for the EMT's who are catching shit for other people's F-ups.

georgetheatheist said...

Just WHERE was Bloomberg from Friday December 24 until Monday December 27? The hour to hour locations. The critical hours. Doesn't anyone have the balls to demand this from him?

georgetheatheist said...

City Council: Time to remove Bloomberg from his mayoralty? De Blasio are you awake and ready?

Anonymous said...

There is an old saying: man proposes and God disposes.

Mike was all but turning the house over to Vallone for 'disposal' (in good Astoria fashion everyone else was bystanders given a script to speak, and a spot on the stage to stand.)

Image that, a historic house with Vallone as the only player to determine its fate!

Yes, I know, only in Astoria.

But in any case now it gets good: Vallone showed up at the wake frothing at the mouth about the poor snow removal.

Perhaps he can publicly reconcile those words (that slip so easily off the tongue) with his rabid support of the Bloomberg administration, a budget that cut funds for removal, a policy that is gutting personnel for the DOS, and full commitment to another million people in NYC (a good chunk in his district) when he cannot obviously provide adequate services (Con Ed, sewers, etc) for the people that live there now.

Cleaning graffiti for the semi-literate in his little enclave around Ditmars just doesn't play out in the big bad world sonny.

Snake Plissskin said...

City Council: Time to remove Bloomberg from his mayoralty? De Blasio are you awake and ready?

----

Aw, come on George, I want to see film clips of City Council telling the public that our two term limits should be overturned so this yo-yo could manage affairs so well.

They put themselves between a rock and a hard place. Let them twist in the wind (BTW, where in the hell is that brassy-voice harrian Quinn - have not seen her for the better part of two weeks)

Anonymous said...

Fantastic job DSNY

Anonymous said...

I feel bad for the EMT's who are catching shit for other people's F-ups.

------------------

I dont think anyone is putting this on the EMTs.

Everyone knows its on the heads of Bloomberg and the sanitation union.

Anonymous said...

George,

Mayor B was chillin down in the islands, of course. Its where you can find him most weekends.

Anonymous said...

Mayor B was chillin down in the islands, of course. Its where you can find him most weekends.



Yup, slipped unnoticed to everyone but the FIRST place cleaned the following day was the airports.

Queens Crapper said...

By All Means, Investigate!

Anonymous said...

At least the Broadway shows were open!

georgetheatheist said...

If you don't think Al Qaeda isn't taking notes right now, you're nuts. Time ripe for the suitcase bomb?

Mayor Mike said...

Hey Schmuckeroos!!! Forgot all about the City Time scandal because of the snowstorm? Ah life is good.

Missing Foundation said...

I don't know - ask Vallone - he is the chair on Public Safety and we all know what a wonderful job he and the city council did in responding to the Con Ed disaster.

No, they did not even bother to discuss if the city can take care of the people living here.

They approved NYC2030 so we can add another million people.

Anonymous said...

Interesting, that "Snow Day For City Hall Honchos" article was removed from the Daily News' site.

Mayor Mike said...

Oh yeah. And I OWN the media. I control EVERYTHING! Hey QC bloggers, here's a couple of million. Go buy yourselves a clue! Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Teflon Bloomberg!

Snow Day for City Hall Honchos.

Anonymous said...

Time for a new mayor...NOW!!!

Jerry Rotondi, Comm. to Save RKO Keith's said...

Rest in peace Michael.

georgetheatheist said...

You're still allowed to have wakes in a private residence? How do you swing that?