Editor’s note: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors can be reduced with the proper mental health support and treatment. If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The blare of bagpipes echoed over the sun-soaked hills of Brookfield Park Saturday morning as nearly 300 people walked to honor two members of the NYPD family no longer with us.
The event, Bobby’s Run 5K, is held in memory of Detective Robert Sivori, a lifelong Staten Island resident who died by suicide in July 2024.
Run founded in the wake of tragedy
Sivori, a graduate of Moore Catholic High School and a St. John’s University alumnus, served with the NYPD for over 19 years. During his time with the NYPD, Sivori — a married dad of three — served in Midtown south before joining the Emergency Service Unit Squad 1 in Manhattan.
Saturday’s run marked the second annual event, an undertaking overseen by Robert’s brother, John Sivori. John, a member of the NYPD himself, noted that this year he was able to form Running Toward Change, a nonprofit aimed at supporting the families of first responders and service members lost to suicide.
“To see everybody out here supporting him and John and the family is fantastic. It really shows the character of Bobby and his whole family and our unit and everybody,” Peter Keszthelyi, a Queens resident who worked alongside Robert for nearly 15 years, said.
Thanks to the fundraising run, John shared that attendees were able to raise not only $10,000 for Robert’s family, but $5,000 for the family of NYPD Officer Patrick McKee, who also died by suicide. McKee, who worked in the 44th Precinct, is survived by his wife and two young children, Carter and Casey.
Kaitlin McKee, Patrick’s wife, lived with her husband in Rockland County before his death.
“Honestly, I cry every time I talk about it because it stinks under the circumstance what we (the two families) both went through and we both share that,” McKee told the Advance/SILive.com, “but having each other to talk to and figure out what our families are going through, what our kids are going through, it means so much.”
As explained by John Sivori, going forward, it is Running Toward Change’s mission to honor one additional family of a first responder or service member each year.
“We started the race last year to help Rob’s kids out and just raise some money for them because they’re obviously going through a tough time,” John told the Advance/SILive.com. “We didn’t know what their financial situation was going to be and we had a great turnout. Everybody that cared about Rob, you know, really showed up. I thought maybe we’d sign up 100 people and we signed up about 300 people. So that’s what means the most to us beyond the donations and the financial relief, is everybody showing up just to be there for us and to support Rob.”
The big blue family
Ahead of the run, attendees, many of which were first responders, mingled and socialized amid the backing of dance hits played by the D.J.
Some guests treated themselves to a morning cup of coffee, while others visited the raffle stand in the hopes of winning some whiskeys or a griddle.
When the time for the race began, the runners gathered before an American Flag for the National Anthem and proceeded to make their way to the starting line.
At the sound of John’s voice, the runners took off and participants both young and old began to make their way along the course within the park. Hundreds of feet pounded the pavement, the purpose behind each step unified in backing their brothers lost to those battles unseen.
“It’s a sad day because we remember Bobby, we wish he was here with us,” Eddie Allen, a Richmond resident and Robert’s sergeant in Emergency Service Unit Truck 1, said. “But it’s great to see the turnout, all the people that come out and show support for his family. You can see that a lot of people loved him.”
Editor’s note: The Advance/SILive.com typically limits reporting on suicides to those that occur in crowded public places, involve public figures or, in special circumstances, where there is a larger public impact. If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.