This week’s Face of Northeast is Sam DiMaggio, a retired Kansas City, Missouri firefighter who has lived in the Historic Northeast community all his life. We spoke with Sam at a fellow firefighter’s retirement celebration back in December at Station 23 at Independence Avenue and Van Brunt Boulevard.

Born in the Pendleton Heights neighborhood, Sam now lives near the Indian Mound/ Scarritt Renaissance border. He’s also an active member of the Sons of Columbus on Independence Boulevard.

Sam has worked at a number of fire stations and retired out of a station north of the river.

“I’ve worked out of 20th and Vine, the old station at 6th and Prospect and the Westside.”

Sam’s favorite thing about living in Historic Northeast is the various ethnic restaurants in the community.

“I really like the Somalian foods and I try to eat at a variety of different restaurants.”