Local 1505 member Harry Pellegrino, Jr., 38, died tragically on duty May 27 after the truck he was driving was struck by a car at a Brooklyn intersection.

Mr. Pellegrino had been a City Park Worker since 1982.

He reportedly had a great sense of humor and was well liked by his co-workers. He was also a strong supporter of his local union, Local 1505.

“Brother Pellegrino was a good member, very union conscious and supportive of positive changes within the local,” said Local 1505 President Michael Hood. “It’s unfortunate he will not get to realize all he had hoped for the union.”

Mr. Hood and DC 37 Rep Anthony Mammalello attended Mr. Pellegrino’s wake and extended condolences from District Council 37 and the local to his wife, three sons and other family members.

Mrs. Doreen Pellegrino said she hopes “Harry’s death will at least lead to safer conditions on the job for other workers.”

According to Guille Mejia of DC 37’s Safety and Health Unit, on the day of the collision Mr. Pellegrino was assigned to Parks and Recreation Dept. District 15A. His job was to travel from one location to another within the district and remove graffiti from Parks facilities.

Whenever a union member dies on duty, the employer is obligated to notify the Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau of the New York State Labor Dept., which investigates such workplace fatalities.

In the past, DC 37 has had problems with slow responses by PESH.

But in Mr. Pellegrino’s case, said Ms. Mejia, PESH assigned an inspector and held an opening conference the day after the fatality — an improvement in timeliness that District Council 37 and other pubic employee unions statewide have been pressing for.

Ms. Mejia said when a fatality involves a motor vehicle collision, PESH usually investigates safety issues, such as maintenance records on the city truck, as well as reviewing reports by responding police officers and the Chief Medical Examiner’s findings. The DC 37 Safety and Health Unit is monitoring the probe.