Author Archives: Dawn Siebel

Firefighter Michael Lyons

Firefighter Michael Lyons, 32, never had the chance to meet his second daughter. She was born in November of 2011 and was given the middle name of “Michael.” His first daughter had been born just the year before on his … Continue reading

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Firefighter Robert Hamilton

Firefighter Robert Hamilton loved organizing the annual Christmas party at Squad 41. At home, his family’s tree could never go up before the tree was finished at the firehouse. He loved a party. His wife – who he met in … Continue reading

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Firefighter Thomas Cullen III

Thomas Cullen III was studying for his Lieutenant’s exam. Studying was nothing new to him. He was constantly reading up about all sorts of firefighting rescue techniques like confined rescue. He studied the structure of buildings he didn’t know well … Continue reading

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Lt. Michael Healey

Lt. Michael Healey met his wife when they were both teenagers. This 18-year FDNY veteran ran long distance races and coached lacrosse, but also apparently loved to clean things around the house. This extended to the firehouse as well where … Continue reading

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Lt. Robert Nagel

Lt. Robert Nagel, 58, hated commercial TV. His wife said he wouldn’t watch any channel below 13 (which is PBS in NYC). He loved the History Channel, old black and white movies, and almost any kind of science fiction. There … Continue reading

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B.C. Fred Scheffold, Jr.

Battalion 12 at Third Avenue & East 134th in Manhattan is now at the corner of B.C. Fred Scheffold Place and Joseph B.C. Marchbanks Way. Scheffold,57, had a 32 year career with the FDNY. At home his creative side came … Continue reading

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B.C. Joseph Marchbanks, Jr.

Fred Scheffold was going off duty and Joseph Marchbanks, Jr. was coming on to relieve him the morning of September 11th. Instead, both Battalion Chiefs traveled together to the WTC to lend their expertise to the rescue efforts. Joseph Marchbanks, … Continue reading

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Firefighter Paul Ruback

Firefighter Paul Ruback, 50, and his wife took in many foster children over the years and adopted three of them, expanding their family to six children. “Too tall Paul” was the nickname for this 6’6″ firefighter around Engine 25. At … Continue reading

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Firefighter Joseph Rivelli

When he was a kid, Firefighter Joseph Rivelli would enlist neighborhood kids to set pretend fires so he could pretend to put them out. He loved his job. At 43, however, he was only two years from retirement after 20 … Continue reading

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Firefighter Robert Minara

Robert James Minara graduated summa cum laude from John Jay College of Criminal Justice when he was 50. That was 21 years into a 25-year career with Ladder 25 and sixteen years into his career as the safety and security … Continue reading

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