Firefighter of the Week – Assistant Chief Donald J Burns

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/YC
August 31, 2009

Donald James Burns

Farewell to ‘Exceptional’ Firefighter
Memorial honors assistant chief, a 39-year veteran

October 10, 2001

Fighting fires was not just a job to Assistant Chief Donald J. Burns but his passion, one that rubbed off on many of his colleagues within the New York Fire Department.

Burns, who remains missing since the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, was memorialized during a Mass yesterday in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where he was hailed as an “exceptional” leader within the department.

A 39-year veteran of the department, Burns, 61, rose from firefighter to citywide borough commander, a job that required him to be at all major incidents in the city during his 24- hour shifts.

During his career, Burns’ ability to learn from his mistakes and use them to improve firefighting skills was apparent to most of his colleagues, who respected him as a brilliant tactician and strategist.

“Anything you ever wanted to know about the Fire Department, he would have the answer,” said Deputy Asst. Chief Albert Turi after yesterday’s Mass. “If you could be half as good a chief as he was you’d still be a good chief.”

In talking about Burns at the service, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen used words like “hero” and “patriot” to describe Burns.

“His experience was unparalleled,” Von Essen said.

In front of the cathedral, a large American flag was hung from a fire truck over the heads of several hundred uniformed firefighters lined up along Fifth Avenue.

Burns’ family led the procession into and out of the cathedral, to the sound of solemn music played by the Fire Department’s bagpipe band.

Burns, who lived in Nissequogue, is survived by his wife, Betty, and three children, Laurie, 37, Michael, 35, and Patrick, 29.

He began his career in 1962 in Brooklyn and rose through the ranks in various positions until 1997, when he became a citywide tour commander.

“When you were with him, you feel there’s no fire you couldn’t conquer,” said 51st Battalion Chief Howard Carlson, based in Richmond Hill. “He was exceptional.” –Bryan Virasami (Newsday)

— Jay Dooling  12 Nov 2001

Source: Irish Tribute

Firefighter of the Week – Assistant Chief Gerard A. Barbara

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/YC
August 25, 2009

A Dad and Yankees Lover

Since Sept. 11, scores of well wishers have packed the small Staten Island home of Gerard Barbara, assistant chief of the New York Fire Department. Mr. Barbara’s wife and two children recognize many of the faces, but not all of them. In an odd twist, they end up consoling some of the visitors, who appear lost. Many just want to hang on to any memory of the chief, who was widely respected and loved for his humanitarian spirit, said his wife, Joanne.

“People I’ve never seen before are saying, ‘You don’t understand, I loved your dad,’ ” said a son, Paul, 23. “I say, I do understand, he was my dad!’ ”

Mr. Barbara, 53, a 31-year veteran of the Fire Department, was one of the city’s highest-ranking supervisors. He was walking toward the lobby of the second trade center tower when the building collapsed.

Paul said that when he and his sister, Caren, were growing up, they had no idea that their father was an important member of the Fire Department, because he was just a dad who was wild about the Yankees.

Caren said: “If the terrorists think they have won, they haven’t. This whole thing just drove my dad deeper into our hearts. He died doing one of the things he liked best, trying to save people.”

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on October 4, 2001.

Source: Legacy

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Firefighter of the Week – Peter J. Ganci, Jr. Chief of Dep.

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/YC
August 19, 2009

“Of all my parents’ friends, the only one happy going to work was a member of 120 Truck. I was only 16 then, but that is when I decided I wanted to be a fireman,” said Peter J. Ganci, Jr., Chief of Department.

Obviously, a wise decision–one that was prodigious for Chief Ganci, as well as the FDNY. As Chief of Department, Chief Ganci was responsible for both Fire and EMS Operations, Training and Fire Prevention and also was required to represent uniformed members of the Department at ceremonial functions.

It is no secret that firefighters enjoy their time in the firehouse. It’s where the action is, where they want to be. Headquarters is the antithesis of this and many balk when assigned there. Chief Ganci took a different tack when called upon. Although he, too, loved the action of the field, he viewed his assignment at Headquarters as “giving back to the FDNY.” In Chief Ganci’s opinion, “Staff Chiefs have the opportunity to make things better for the firefighters coming after us.”

At Headquarters, “we have the opportunity to make an impact. I’m very proud of the Incident Safety Officers Program (formulated in conjunction with former UFOA President Deputy Chief Artie Parrinello). I could not have accomplished this in the field; here, it’s a different story.”

Accustomed to action, working at Headquarters was a difficult adjustment for the Chief. “It seems that I spend an excessive amount of time trying to resolve one conflict or another. Most of the issues I face daily are problems of some sort. It doesn’t leave much time to acknowledge the good our guys do every day,” said Chief Ganci. “One of the most difficult aspects of my job is striking a balance between an obligation to the public and our members. I continually strive to do the right thing by both.”

How will Chief Ganci be remembered? He hopes as “a good fireman…a good Chief.” The name Ganci will continue to be familiar for many years to come, however, as Peter, III, now is a firefighter, assigned to Ladder 111.

Source: New York City Fire Department

Firefighter of the Week Dep. Fire Comm. William M. Feehan

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/YC
August 13, 2009

“Been there, done that” probably best describes the illustrious, 42-year FDNY career of First Deputy Fire Commissioner William M. Feehan, whose life and career were cut short when he was killed on September 11, 2001, as a result of the explosion and collapse of the twin World Trade Center Towers in Manhattan.

Chief Feehan held every title within the Department, beginning as a Proby Firefighter when he was appointed on October 10, 1959. He was a Firefighter through 1963, serving in Division 3, Ladder 3 and the Bureau of Fire Prevention. And then the promotions came, from Lieutenant in 1964 to Chief of Department in 1991. Chief Feehan has served as Deputy Fire Commissioner since 1992. He briefly served as Acting Fire Commissioner in 1993-1994.

A life-long Queens resident, Chief Feehan graduated from St. John’s University in 1952. Before his appointment to the FDNY, he served in the United States Army and was decorated with the Combat Infantry Badge, Korean Service Medal, UN Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal during the Korean War.

Chief Feehan’s wife, Elizabeth, pre-deceased him five years ago. He is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth Feehan and Tara Davan, and sons, FF John Feehan, who is assigned to Squad Company 1, and William. Additionally, he is survived by six grandchildren–Siobhan, Kelsey, Connor, William, Virginia and Kelly.

The death of First Deputy Commissioner William M. Feehan–and with it, his experience and expertise – mark the end of an era in the New York City Fire Department.

Source: New York CityFire Department

Firefighter of the Week – Lt. Stephen Gary Harrell

By Alysha Sideman
Advance Staff Writer
August 8, 2009

He loved his family, his job and making music, and was loved for his sense of humor, quick wit and kind heart.

His family came first, but Stephen Harrell had two other loves — firefighting and music.

When he attended the funeral of another firefighter, he was so moved he wrote a song about it. The lyrics were about the people and children the fireman left behind.

Ironically, it is now a song about his own family.

As the lieutenant on duty Sept. 11 at Ladder Co. 10, located across from the World Trade Center, Mr. Harrell and his fellow firefighters were some of the first to respond to Tower 1 after it was attacked.

He is now listed among the missing. Reports placed him in the center staircase of Tower 1, somewhere between the 30th and 40th floors.

Compounding the hardship for his family, his older brother, Harvey, 49, a lieutenant with Rescue Co. 5, Concord, is also missing.

Mr. Harrell’s dream was to have one of his songs recorded professionally said his wife, Meghan. Fortunately, he made amateur recordings of many of his songs and some of his friends are now trying to make that dream come true.

“Having a part of him — even if it is just his voice — really helps. It will help to carry on his memory for our daughter. It gives me something tangible to hold on to,” Mrs. Harrell said.

Writing songs was cathartic for Mr. Harrell and now listening to them will be for his wife and his daughter.

“He saw a lot of people pass away in his lifetime. This is how he dealt with it,” Mrs. Harrell added. And his musical talents weren’t just confined to singing and songwriting.

As a young man, he took music classes at the College of Staten Island, and later he filled his home and surrounded his wife with all kinds of music — and three pianos.

“He was a wonderful musician. There wasn’t an instrument he couldn’t pick up and play by ear. He played the saxophone, trombone, clarinet, trumpet, baritone horn and piano,” she said.

On their wedding day, he sang Eric Clapton’s classic “Wonderful Tonight” to his wife in front of all the guests.

Born in Plant City, Fla., he was brought to Midland Beach before his first birthday, and moved to Westerleigh in 1993 as a newlywed. After seven years there, the couple settled in Warwick, N.Y.

A 15-year veteran of the Fire Department, Mr. Harrell, 44, was the officer on duty with “probies” on Sept. 11. His career choice may have been prompted by his older brother, Harvey, but firefighting was also in his blood.

“They were six in the family, including Stephen, and all very close. He was best friends with Harvey and Dave,” said Mrs. Harrell. “But he was always helping people. It was part of his personality. He was also fearless. He was a natural (firefighter).”

Before he was promoted to lieutenant in 1998, he had worked as a firefighter in Brooklyn at Ladder Co. 122, Engine Co. 255 and Ladder Co. 157.

“Stephen was not only my brother, he was one of my lifelong best friends, along with my other brother, Lt. Harvey Harrell Jr. — who I call Buddy — who also perished in the World Trade Center that day,” said David Harrell. “We were all close in age and closer in life. We grew up together, we became men together and we stayed together. I don’t know if we were more like the Three Musketeers or the Three Stooges, but we were three together, forever.”

Before Stephen Harrell’s daughter, Holly Rae, was born, he was a member of many rock ‘n’ roll bands — singing and playing the saxophone. After she came along, he wrote songs about her and sang to her. He continued to perform for special occasions, including every family wedding and at Fire Department benefits. Mr. Harrell played the baritone horn for the New York City Skyliners Drum and Bugle Corps. He once performed a solo of “Tonight” from “West Side Story” in Roosevelt Field, L.I.

“Stephen was my inspiration in music,” said his sister, Cynthia Casserly. “I plan to play one of his favorite songs, ‘Amazing Grace,’ on my bagpipes at his memorial.”

Mr. Harrell was an avid skier and took part in the Firemen’s Ski Races at Hunter Mountain for many years. He also skied at resorts in Canada, and enjoyed golf and basketball.

“In his young days, he spent many a night playing basketball and football anywhere he and his friends could find an empty lot. It was not about competition or winning. It was about friendship, fun and laughs,” added his brother, David.

Mr. Harrell had a very close relationship with Holly Rae, now 7, and coached her soccer team.

“She embodies everything that is good about Stephen, and that is a whole lot. He was an original. He had an abundance of friends who loved his sense of humor, quick wit and kind heart. A wonderful father and husband, he will always be in our hearts,” said Mrs. Harrell.

In addition to his wife, the former Meghan Truppa; his daughter, Holly Rae; his brother, David, and his sister, Cynthia, surviving are his parents, Miriam and Harvey Lee Harrell Sr.; another brother, William, and another sister, Barbara Lee Harrell.

Source: Staten Island Advance and FDNY Ten House

Firefighter of the Week – Lt. Gregg Arthur Atlas

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/GCC
August 1, 2009

Firefighter of the Week – Sean Patrick Tallon

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/GCC
July 24, 2009

Awaiting Fresh Challenges

Sean Patrick Tallon, 26, was a reservist in the United States Marine Corps, a former emergency medical technician and a probationary firefighter with Ladder Company 10 just a few weeks away from the end of his training. He was tough, but he always wondered whether he measured up. “That’s the way he was,” said his older sister, Rosaleen DaRos. “He always thought everybody else was capable, but he was just as capable.”

Take the button accordion that Mr. Tallon loved to play. He would bring out his instrument and play Irish favorites for relatives at family gatherings, with his sister on the piano accordion. But he rarely played for friends; some of them didn’t even know he could play an instrument.

When he left for work from his home in Yonkers on Sept. 11, headed for the fire station that was among the first to respond to the trade center attack, he seemed in a buoyant mood. His probationary period was almost over and a new challenge lay ahead.

“He wanted to find Mrs. Right,” Mrs. DaRos said. “That is what he said was his next mission. He said his probie year was almost finished and he wanted to start with the rest of his life. Everything was just all ready. He had just blossomed.”

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on November 17, 2001.

Source: Legacy and FDNY Ten House

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