FDNY Tales - Vic Hershkowitz

Vic Hershkowitz, fireman in Engine 327 (later on Engine 246), was a handball player. In fact he was a great handball player.

His handball prowess was written up in WNYF (1952 / July issue).

From that article: "Vic has been playing handball about 13 years except for a 20-month stretch with the Air Cadets.

Angelo Trulio of Brooklyn, former National champion, says that Hershkowitz is the best player since Banuet ruled the courts from 1929 to 1932. "In another year he will be Banuet's equal and two years from now he will be better than Banuet," says Trulio.

That would make our firefighter about the best handball player ever.

Vic's impressive record is too lengthy to report here in detail.

To conserve space, let's capitulate it this way. He has won 35 championships:
9 New York State Singles and 5 Doubles
2 Metropolitan Singles and 3 Doubles
7 National Singles and 2 Doubles

In invitation tournaments he has won 4 Singles and 3 Doubles.

He has held 10 National championships.

At present he is National 1-wall, National 3-wall and National 4-wall Singles champion."

Mr. Hershkowitz passed away on June 23, 2008. His obituary included a biography by Richard Goldstein of the New York Times. To read it: CLICK HERE

Now it's your turn. If you have a story that you'd like to submit, or have an idea for a story please let us know. Send it to: fdnytales@Fire-Police-EMS.com

Thanks, Ira Hoffman

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