Monthly Archives: October 2014

Capt. Louis Modafferi

Captain Louis Modafferi was awaiting assignment as a Battalion Chief, a promotion he had already earned but would not be formally presented until his funeral in October. On 9/11 he was one of five members of Rescue 5 who were … Continue reading

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Division 8, Rescue 5

Division 8 covers Staten Island and south Brooklyn and lost 17 of their firefighters on 9/11. Rescue 5 is based on Staten Island and has a scuba diver on its badge. Its firefighters are rescue divers in addition to their … Continue reading

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Division 6

Yesterday’s post ends the listings of the 14 firefighters based in the Bronx who responded to and died on 9/11.
 One day earlier, on September 10th, Father Mychal Judge had presided over the annual memorial mass for Ladder 42/Engine 73. … Continue reading

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Firefighter Peter Bielfeld

In 1985 Peter Bielfeld’s life was saved by Captain James McDonnell who pushed Bielfeld and another firefighter to safety seconds before a fireball exploded in the fourth floor apartment in a tenement fire across the street from Ladder 42 in … Continue reading

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Firefighter Joseph Spor, Jr.

Five months before 9/11, Gerard Schrang and his wife bought their dream house in upstate New York. It was for “the second phase of their lives.” Having promised each other to live to be 90, “he only made half of … Continue reading

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Firefighter Gerard Schrang

  Five months before 9/11, Gerard Schrang and his wife bought their dream house in upstate New York. It was for “the second phase of their lives.” Having promised each other to live to be 90, “he only made half … Continue reading

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Firefighter Donald Regan

Firefighter Donald Regan, 47, had four children and he went to all their games. If they played on the same day (which was not infrequent), he would catch at least one inning of each game. When they grew older and … Continue reading

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Firefighter Raymond Meisenheimer

Raymond Meisenheimer, 46, had been planning to retire at the end of 2001. A technical rescue expert on Rescue 3, Ray also served on the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team that was immediately called in after 9/11 to search … Continue reading

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Firefighter Thomas Gambino, Jr.

Thomas Gambino, 48, was a New York City firefighter for 17 years. Gambino was a union delegate and a devout Catholic who attended Latin mass every week. This father to two sons loved to sit on the beach at Robert … Continue reading

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Firefighter Thomas Foley

In 2000, firefighter Tommy Foley was featured shirtless in People Magazine’s 100 Most Eligible Bachelors issue. In 1998, when he was assigned to Squad 41, he was the one chosen to go over the side of a 17-story building to … Continue reading

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