Over the past 102 years, he’s witnessed profound changes in history that have transformed lives in countless ways: two pandemics, wars, and breakthroughs in the fields of science and medicine. But Anthony Louis Aquaro is adamant about his life and his good fortune. 

“My greatest blessing is wealth,” he said. “Not the monetary kind, but the wealth that comes with being blessed with a beautiful and loving family of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.” He’s the oldest living member of the FDNY in the five boroughs, having retired from Brooklyn’s Engine 69. To mark the feat, Aquaro was lauded at a commemorative ceremony on Sunday.