Previous Story
Late PSS driver honored
|
Posted on Feb 15 2006
with a school bus convoyA fleet of school buses will dominate Airport Road today, as drivers from the Public Transportation Office pay their last respects to a colleague who passed away early this month.
Public School System administrative officer Dorin Salas said PTO drivers would hold the convoy to honor Vicente Lairopi, who worked for nine years as a driver ferrying schoolchildren to and from their schools.
Lairopi, 45, died of cardiac arrest last Feb. 8 at the Commonwealth Health Center. He is survived by his wife, Kelari, and their three children.
Salas said at 10am today, PTO drivers and a number of PSS staff would view Lairopi’s remains one last time at his residence, then the drivers and staff would go back to work at PTO but would meet again at 12:30pm to prepare for the convoy and parade.
She said the convoy would start at 1pm and would last about 45 minutes. The buses will pass the residence of Lairopi and the bus drivers will hold a “noise barrage” by honking their horns to show their sympathy, honor, and recognition to the late driver.
Department of Public Safety officers will also lend a hand in the event tomorrow, ensuring safety to mourners.
“He was a good man,” said Salas, adding that the late driver was friendly and would immediately comply and accomplish the tasks assigned to him.
His friends said they called Lairopi the “King of the Road” because of the manner with which he drives his vehicle. Lairopi is the only son of the late Fermin and Carmen Lairopi.
