Monthly Archives: May 2014

Firefighter John Heffernan

John Heffernan, 37, played rhythm guitar in a punk rock band called “The Bullys.” He sang backup, wrote most of their songs, created their website and booked their shows. Marky Ramone liked the band so much, he produced their first … Continue reading

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Firefighter Edward Day

Firefighter Edward Day, 45, was known for putting smiley-face stickers on the helmets of grumpy firefighters. Joining the FDNY in 1988, Day was a third degree black belt in karate, a discipline he believed conferred “personal peace.” This was a … Continue reading

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Firefighter Michael Cammarata

I believe Michael Cammarata is the youngest of the 343. He received a PERFECT score on his firefighter exam and was nine weeks into his final 14-week training, assigned to Ladder Co. 11. His brother, looking through his things for … Continue reading

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Lt. Michael Quilty

September 5th marked Lt. Michael Quilty’s 20th anniversary with the FDNY. Over the course of his career, he had been cited for heroism three times. He had only been with Ladder Co. 11 for about a year on 9/11. Based … Continue reading

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Firefighter Stephen Russell

  Stephen Russell, 40, was nicknamed “MacGyver” for his ability to build or fix anything. He was a skilled carpenter (and member of the Carpenter’s Union) who had built the memorial & awards cabinet at Engine 55, not knowing that … Continue reading

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Firefighter Christopher Mozzillo

  Christopher Mozzillo, 27, passed the FDNY exam when he was 18 and then waited YEARS for an opening, which he finally got at 25, following his father into the profession. Nicknamed “The Bull,” friends claimed that “he wasn’t afraid … Continue reading

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Firefighter Robert Lane

  Robert Lane, 28, was a “big guy with a magnetic smile.” When he joined the FDNY in 1998, it was a dream come true. He loved to cook. When he would go out for dinner, he’d study the food … Continue reading

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Lt. Peter Freund

  Lt. Peter Freund, 45, loved astronomy. He had built an observatory in his backyard, complete with a retractable roof and a camera on his telescope. Living in farm country upstate New York, (a 2-hour commute from Engine 55), he … Continue reading

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Firefighter Robert McMahon

  Robert McMahon, 35, never had a chance to meet his second son who was born in January 2002, although he had recently finished renovating their home preparing for his arrival. He had met his wife while volunteering at a … Continue reading

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Firefighter Robert Linnane

  Robert Linnane, 33, still a probationary firefighter, had passed the rigorous FDNY exams after he turned 30. Before joining up, he had spent nearly a decade working for Delta Airlines and was well known for taking full advantage of … Continue reading

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment