VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Beach Fire Department is mourning one of its own.
Captain Matt "Chevy" Chiaverotti has died following a battle with anaplastic thyroid cancer.
He was one of the firefighters who spent several hours at the scene of the "Good Friday Miracle" jet crash in Virginia Beach in 2012.
On Good Friday of that year, a Navy FA-18 jet crashed into the Mayfair Mews Apartments. It was called a miracle because no one perished in the fiery collision that demolished the apartment complex.
Eleven years later, Chiaverotti and four other firefighters who responded to the scene were battling some form of cancer. While no one can say for sure that the jet crash is the culprit behind the cancer diagnoses, the toxic brew that filled the air and littered the ground that day was extremely hazardous.
The fire department said it lost Chiaverotti "far too soon."
"We're all hurting pretty badly right now," said Chief Kenneth Pravetz. "Matt was an awesome fire officer and a great human being and we're so saddened by our loss, he was a wonderful part of our organization."
Virginia Beach Professional Fire & EMS, Local 2924 successfully fought during Virginia's General Assembly 2023 session for the list of presumptive cancers to be expanded.
This would allow firefighters who are diagnosed with certain cancers to receive compensation benefits. Thyroid and bladder cancers are now included, along with leukemia, pancreatic, prostate, rectal, throat, ovarian, breast, colon, brain, or testicular cancer.
In January, Chiaverotti spoke to 13News Now about the importance of seeing the legislation pass.
"These guys are putting it on the line every day. Maybe we can expand this to keep them covered a little bit better," he said.
Chiaverotti's hard battle against cancer never had him second-guessing the decision he made more than 20 years ago to become a firefighter, calling it the best thing that ever happened to him.
"I'd do everything the same."
His family released the following statement Tuesday evening:
We want to express our deepest appreciation to everyone who has reached out to us after losing our beloved Captain Matt Chiaverotti (Chevy). Please know that it is your love, kindness, support, and generosity, that has carried us through the incredibly difficult journey we’ve traveled over this past year. Because of you, we have not walked alone. We have heard from so many people who were positively impacted by Chevy throughout his career. This has provided much peace and comfort to us, and for that we are eternally grateful.
With Much Love and Appreciation,
The Family of “Chevy” Chiaverotti
Visitation with the Chiaverotti family will be held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center on Sunday, April 23, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Monday, April 24, at the Convention Center at 1 p.m. The service will also be live-streamed on the Virginia Beach Fire Department’s Facebook page.