Blog | Better Angels

Firefighter John Santore

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

The Noble Maritime Collection at Snug Harbor on Staten Island dedicated an exhibit to firefighter John Santore, 49, who founded the Noble Crew in 1992. Together these volunteers devoted eight years and a million dollars in sweat equity to completely transform a 28000 sf dormitory into a model of historic renovation and a significant maritime museum, earning the 1999 NY Preservation Award from the Municipal Art Society of NY.

This father of two girls had been with the FDNY since 1981. He was the senior man at Ladder Co. 5. He was found along with Arena, Hannafin and Brunn on Friday the 14^th.

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged 343, better angels, Dawn Siebel, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters, firefighters of 9/11, John Santore, Ladder 5, LODD, memorial, NFFF, paintings, World Trade Center, WTC | Leave a comment

Firefighter Paul Keating

Posted on May 4, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

Paul Keating, 38, performed his first life-saving rescue just weeks after graduating the academy in 1995, but it was from water not fire. A strong swimmer, he pulled a drowning man from the ocean in New Jersey, administered CPR, and saved his life. Living right behind Ten House across from the WTC, Keating was awakened on the morning of 9/11 by the sound of the first plane crashing into Tower One. Assigned to Ladder 5, he was off duty that day, but went to 10 House to get gear. He called his sister to say he was okay and was going to the WTC to “help his brothers.” When his family returned to his apartment later, all the windows were blown out and thick dust covered everything in sight.

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged 343, 9/11, better angels, Dawn Siebel, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters, firefighters of 9/11, Ladder 5, LODD, memorial, NFFF, paintings, Paul Keating, World Trade Center, WTC | 11 Comments

Firefighter Thomas Hannafin

Posted on May 3, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

Thomas Hannafin was a 10-year veteran. His brother Kevin, an FDNY firefighter based in Brooklyn, was searching the ruins with other surviving members of Ladder 5 when they found the body of Thomas and four other members of the company. He carried his brother’s helmet out of the ruins. In “Portraits of Grief,” Kevin said, “It was the proudest moment of my life. It means a lot for firefighters, in firefighter tradition, that members of their company carry them out. That day, I was part of that company.”

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged 343, 9/11, better angels, Dawn Siebel, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters, firefighters of 9/11, Ladder 5, LODD, memorial, NFFF, paintings, Thomas Hannafin, World Trade Center, WTC | Leave a comment

Firefighter Andrew Brunn

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

Andrew Brunn, 28, loved to surf and skateboard. At 6’2”, he had a formidable presence. Beginning his career with the City of New York as a police officer in 1993, he joined the FDNY in May, 2001, because he thought he would have a better chance of saving people. This is what he was hard at work doing on 9/11. He and four others from Ladder 5 were on the 35^th floor of Tower One when they heard the order to evacuate. They started back down, their exit slowed by helping an injured man and woman escape. They had made it as far down as the fifth floor when the tower collapsed. Their bodies were found together that Friday, September 14^th.

Brunn was still a “probie” when he died. Along with five other rookies, he would be awarded his graduation diploma posthumously that November.

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged 343, 9/11, Andrew Brunn, better angels, Dawn Siebel, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters, firefighters of 9/11, Ladder 5, LODD, memorial, NFFF, paintings, World Trade Center, WTC | Leave a comment

Firefighter Louis Arena

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

Louis Arena, 32, had been an FDNY firefighter for six years. He was also a gourmet chef who could repair anything. His second job was doing the detail woodwork on yachts.

Arena met his wife when he was nine, and they had been a couple since they turned 17. She loved the way he smelled, especially after a fire. “Smell my head.” he would say when he came home. They also loved “Joe Versus the Volcano,” having watched it maybe a hundred times. It was one of their little rituals. “Want to watch Joe?” was prelude to an evening snuggling on the couch. “We’re probably the only people in the country who like this movie,” she said. Arena left behind a daughter, 4, and son, 3.

Posted in Better Angels Stories, Uncategorized | Tagged 343, better angels, Dawn Siebel, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters, firefighters of 9/11, Ladder 5, LODD, Louis Arena, memorial, NFFF, paintings, World Trade Center, WTC | 1 Comment

Lt. Michael Warchola

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

The last tour of duty for Lt. Michael Warchola was to have been September 13, 2001, when he was scheduled to retire after 24 years in the FDNY. When the Slovakian Prime Minister came a year later to run the NYC Marathon, he sought out Warchola’s brother, also retired FDNY. Although their European heritage had faded into ancient history for the family, their name remained a clear indicator of their roots. Asking for and receiving a picture of Warchola, the Prime Minister held it in his hand to show during a television interview on his return, emphasizing the international reach of the tragedy.

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged 343, better angels, Dawn Siebel, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters, firefighters of 9/11, Ladder 5, LODD, Lt. Michael Warchola, memorial, NFFF, paintings, World Trade Center, WTC | Leave a comment

Lt. Vincent Giammona

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

September 11, 2001 was the 40th birthday of Lieutenant Vincent Giammona. Just four days earlier, Giammona was on Coney Island with his wife and two youngest daughters. Having taken in the aquarium, they were headed back home when he turned the car around. He just couldn’t leave without a ride on The Cyclone, Coney Island’s big roller coaster. Trouble is, it didn’t start its runs until 6pm, four hours away. He cajoled, flashed his badge, played up his imminent birthday, and otherwise charmed his way into a solo ride. Soon enough, there he was, the only one on board for a private ride on the coaster. This is why his nickname around Ladder 5 was “Lieutenant Fun.”

Posthumously promoted to Captain, Giammona left behind four young daughters.

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged 343, better angels, Dawn Siebel, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters, firefighters of 9/11, Ladder 5, LODD, Lt. Vincent Giammona, memorial, NFFF, paintings, World Trade Center, WTC | Leave a comment

Firefighter Faustino Apostol, Jr.

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

Faustino Apostol (“Faust”), was a firefighter with 28 years on the force. On the morning of 9/11, he was on duty with Engine 24/Ladder 5 in SoHo. He was the chief aide for Battalion Two.

His first two grandsons were born six days apart not two years earlier. Faust was so tenacious he was able to talk his way into the delivery room at 2AM to greet the first of them. He and his wife, stepping gladly into their babysitting roles, converted a bedroom into a nursery, complete with fire engine sheets, fire hats and trucks.

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged 343, Battalion Two, better angels, Dawn Siebel, Faustino Apostol, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters, firefighters of 9/11, LODD, memorial, NFFF, paintings, World Trade Center, WTC | Leave a comment

B. C. Richard Prunty

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

Battalion Chief Richard Prunty, 57, had been a firefighter for 33 years. His daughter writes in the NFFF Fallen Heroes listing that her father can be seen in the lobby of 1 WTC in the footage shot by Jules Naudet in what became their documentary “9/11.” The filmmaker zooms in on him and remarks: “There’s Chief Prunty. Great guy – white hair, mustache. The perfect kind of grandfather that you would like to have.”

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged 343, Battalion Two, better angels, Dawn Siebel, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters, firefighters of 9/11, LODD, memorial, NFFF, paintings, Richard Prunty, World Trade Center, WTC | Leave a comment

B. C. William McGovern

Posted on April 26, 2014 by Dawn Siebel

Battalion Chief William McGovern, 49, will begin the listings for the men of Battalion Two. In total, B2 lost 23 members on 9/11. In 1988, McGovern and another firefighters crawled low through smoke to find and rescue two young siblings. The 7-year-old boy had already stopped breathing but was resuscitated by the firefighters. McGovern was quoted as saying, “I’m thankful I could give him a second chance. I saw him come back to life. It’s the greatest experience I ever had.”

On 9/11, McGovern was last seen alive around the 30^th floor of Tower One.

He left behind a beloved 11-year-old daughter and a grown son.

Posted in Better Angels Stories | Tagged 343, Battalion Two, better angels, Dawn Siebel, FDNY, firefighter, firefighters, firefighters of 9/11, LODD, memorial, NFFF, paintings, William McGovern, World Trade Center, WTC | Leave a comment