Vincent Malveaux's life with the FDNY began in the same place it ended. 

In 2017, he took an oath to serve the city as an emergency medical technician at the Christian Cultural Center and on Wednesday that is where the department gave him a proper goodbye. 

Hundreds of his colleagues lined the route of his procession and saluted as his casket was loaded on and off the back of a firetruck.

What You Need To Know

  • Vincent Malveaux, 31, died after suffering a medical episode during training at the FDNY Training Academy on Randall's Island last week

  • Before the fire academy, he worked as an EMT in the Bronx

  • The medical examiner is still working to determine his exact cause of death

"The list of lives he touched and so often saved goes on and on,” said FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro. “That is his legacy of service having accomplished so much at such a young age and striving to challenge himself in new and different ways as he trained to become a firefighter.”

Malveaux's family said he dreamed of becoming a New York City Firefighter since he was 5-years-old, spending four years as an EMT in the Bronx to help him get there. 

He was just a third of the way there when he suffered a medical episode while training at the academy last week. 

Malveaux died the next day.

His older brother said Vin, as he lovingly called him, worked hard every day to become a firefighter.

"On the floor next to a chair there still sits several dumbbells. Even though Vin was already in particularly good physical condition, Vin was dedicated to attaining and maintaining physical fitness to achieve his goals."

Friends and colleague from his EMS post in the Bronx described Malveaux as a quiet yet witty guy who was always scheming his next prank — often hiding keys from his colleagues or gift wrapping their equipment.

Both family and friends made mention of his signature move, a subtle shrug that would make light of a situation.

"He was just that go-to-guy when you needed a laugh, someone to listen and he would just shrug and say, ‘Yeah, that’s what you are going through,’ but he was there if you needed a hug. If you needed a friend, he was there,” said Christian Marte, a paramedic who worked with Malveaux at Station 19 in the Bronx.

At dinner the night before the funeral service, Malveaux's friends and family left a seat open for him. 

He is his mother's only child, but comes from a large family of half-siblings and cousins. Now, he is forever a part of the FDNY family.