VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – A Celebration of Life Service was held Monday afternoon for Virginia Beach Fire Captain Matt “Chevy” Chiaverotti.
Hundreds of firefighters from Virginia Beach and surrounding cities lined the street in front of the Virginia Beach Convention Center as Matt’s body was taken to the service.
“Matt left and indelible mark on the world and the lives of everybody in it,” said Virginia Beach Fire Chief Ken Pravetz.
Chevy was a highly decorated fire captain, earning 3 medals of honor and 3 lifesaving awards. Pravetz says people are no doubt alive today because of Matt.
The Virginia Beach Fire Department announced Chiaverotti’s passing away on Apr. 17. Chiaverotti had been diagnosed with Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer (metastatic carcinoma), a rare and aggressive form of cancer that is also known as “occupational cancer” for firefighters.
His wife Sara, says doctors didn’t think he’d make it more than six months, but he was on a mission.
“Matt was not letting this disease get him down,” said Sara. “He booked his appointments and got his flights to md Anderson and off he flew.”
A mission to continue serving his city and to watch his 11-year-old son, Gus, grow older.
“Most people would’ve had a negative attitude about the cards they were dealt but not Matt,” said Sara.
The Celebration of Life service began at 1 p.m. Monday at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. A Sea of Blue took place prior to the service at 12:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the Chiaverotti family is asking people to donate to either the Texas Fire Fighters Home or the Virginia Beach Fire Foundation.
The service was open to the public, and also live streamed on the Virginia Beach Fire Department’s Facebook page.
