BOSTON / Updated 4:31 p.m. -- A victim of the disastrous fire at The
Station nightclub fire in West Warwick has died at Massachusetts General
Hospital in Boston, the hospital said this morning.
Linda Suffoletto of Glocester, R.I., died at 5:15 a.m., according the
the hospital's Web site.
She is the only person of the 187 people taken to hospitals after the
Feb. 20 fire to have died, bringing the death toll to 97 .
Ninety-six bodies were recovered from the rubble of the wooden nightclub.
Mrs. Suffoletto's husband, Benjamin Joseph Suffoletto Jr., 43, was
killed in the fire. He was buried yesterday.
Many of the most badly injured fire victims were transported to
Massachusetts General and other Massachusetts hospitals, including
Shriners Hospital and the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical
Center in Worcester.
Governor Carcieri has said on several occasions that it was remarkable
that none of the hospitalized victims had died. He said it was a tribute
to the good work by rescue squads and the fine care they were receiving.
But he did note during yesterday's press conference that many of the
victims are still very sick.
"We are not out of the woods in terms of fatalities by a long shot,"
said Carcieri, who with his wife, Sue, has been visiting some of
hospitals where victims are being treated. Carcieri visited Mass.
General earlier this week.
About 50 people remained hospitalized, 34 in critical condition.
Also today, Carcieri requested that church bells throughout Rhode Island
toll 97 times at noon on Sunday in memory of the fire victims. While the
bells toll, Carcieri asks that Rhode Islanders keep a moment of silence.
"I would ask all Rhode Islanders to pause at noon to remember those who
have suffered physically and emotionally as a result of this devastating
fire," Carcieri said. "The tolling of the bells also signifies our
coming together as a state, and as loving and caring people who will
continue to support one another in the days, weeks and months ahead."
The Rhode Island Council of Churches is contacting its statewide
membership to coordinate the tribute.
-- With reports from Journal staff writer Neil Shea.
