Widow asks when city will place memorial stone for firefighter James Piro

Helen Piero spoke during the public comment period at the May 6 Mentor City Council meeting to ask when the city will place a completed memorial stone honoring her late husband, retired firefighter Lieutenant James Piro, at the city's firefighters and police memorial.

Piero said her husband, James Piro, served the Mentor Fire Department for more than 30 years and died June 13, 2021, at age 63 from a glioblastoma tumor. She told council that after two years of litigation, it was determined his death was directly caused by exposure to hazardous materials during his service with the fire department. She said a memorial stone was completed in October 2023, paid for by Brenner's Funeral Home, but remains unplaced and that she has received no recent updates from city staff or the department.

Piero said the city had shown little formal acknowledgment at the time of his death — she recounted no official card, flag lowering or funeral engine — and asked, “When will the city place his memorial stone? I just want closure.” She offered to help plan the memorial event herself if the city needed assistance.

No action was recorded during the meeting; the comment was presented during the public comment period and was not acted on at that time.

Why it matters: the speaker asserts that litigation found a service‑related cause of death for a retired firefighter and seeks timely public recognition of his service at the municipal memorial; the city did not provide a placement timeline during the meeting.