Fallen Police Officer Last Act of Love, Heart to Vietnam Veteran

GIFT OF LIFE: HEART OF SLAIN NJ POLICE OFFICER DONATED TO VIETNAM VETERAN
ABC News
By Dr. Sapna Parikh
Tuesday, July 22, 2014

NEW PROVIDENCE (WABC) -- From one hero to an another, an officer killed in the line of duty gave the most important gift possible after his death: the gift of life.

By allowing his organs to be donated after his death, Jersey City Police Officer Marc Anthony DiNardo gave a Vietnam Veteran a second chance at life.

Officer DiNardo died from wounds suffered in a shootout in 2009. But his family say his legacy lives on and hopes his organ donation will urge other to do the same.

Exactly five years ago, DiNardo lost his life in the line of duty, but the 37-year old husband and father's commitment to saving other lives never ended.

"He's a hero in life and in death," said the officer's widow, Mary DiNardo.

As an organ donor, officer DiNardo's heart went to another hero, Captain Don Zolkiwsky, a Purple Heart recipient and veteran of the Vietnam War.

"It's bittersweet. Sweet in that, yes it happened, bitter in that someone had to die for me to live," said Capt. Zolkiwsky.
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