Vincent Kane, 37, broke the firefighter stereotype in many ways. A resident of Manhattan’s Upper East Side, he could walk to work at Engine 22. Apparently he spent hours in the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue and he attended performances of the New York Philharmonic in Lincoln Center. “Most firefighters don’t even know what the Philharmonic is,” claimed his friend and fellow firefighter, Michael Ruddick. Vinnie first became a firefighter at 17 when he joined the Rockaway Point Volunteer Fire Department. On East 80th where he lived he was nicknamed “The Mayor” by his neighbors who sometimes could hear guitar playing coming from his apartment late at night. He kept a second guitar in his locker at the firehouse.
He was found on Thanksgiving night, 2001, with fellow Engine 22 firefighter Michael Elferis.
A very good friend of wife dated Vinnie. He was a unique, talented and wonderful human being. This year on September 11th I will perform my 19th musical memorial “Music From Ground Zero” in Woodstock, NY (our first show outside of New York City) to honor the 20th anniversary of 9/11. I will be dedicating a song to Vinnie, “By Your Side”, a tune about those who leave us always walk beside us. That we will meet again. That love is forever. I will donate free tickets to the local firehouse. The concert proceeds will be donated to Music For Migrants, a NYC charity helping displaced migrant children procure instruments and musical instruction. We will stream the show as well from the Bearsville Theater. The 11 member band is really amazing. We will never forget!