Hero’s gone, but Judge walk survives
EACH SEPTEMBER since 2002, the annual Father Mychal Judge Walk of Remembrance has been led by a man who took his last step 15 years before the FDNY chaplain’s 9/11 death.
And now Detective Steven McDonald is gone, too — his life of courage and inspiration ended on Jan 10.
His loss reverberated in the lead-up to this year’s event, where McDonald will be remembered alongside the Franciscan priest killed in the wreckage of the World Trade Center.
“Steven was the heart and soul, the spirit and the life of the walk,” said the Rev. Chris Keenan, who replaced Judge as an FDNY chaplain after 9/11. “And in many ways, that will continue.
“We’ll miss him desperately. But now he and his dearest friend Mychal are together and with us on the walk.”
The paralyzed McDonald’s usual position at the front of the group will be filled Sept. 10 by his widow Patti Ann and their son Conor.
John Bates, a close McDonald friend and a driving force behind the walk from day one, said there was never any doubt the event would go on.
“One of the first conversations I had with Conor and Patti Ann at the hospital, when Steven was in critical condition, was them telling me, ‘We’re going to keep this walk going, right John?’ ” recalled Bates. “And I said ‘Of course.’ ”
The honoring of McDonald and Judge was perhaps inevitable, given their close ties in life.
The two first met after the young cop was left paralyzed by a teen gunman in Central Park on July 12, 1986, and the pair remained tight until Judge’s death.
Conor McDonald (inset) served as an altar boy at Judge’s funeral after the 68-year-old priest became the first official fatality of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack.
One year later, McDonald — with his motorized wheelchair and breathing tube — originated the walk to honor his friend and spiritual adviser.
Roughly 30 people turned out for year one. By 2016, the number had grown to 1,000 — including Claire Ward, who traveled to Manhattan from Edinburgh, Scotland.
Ward first heard of Judge in the aftermath of 9/11. She later read former Daily News columnist Michael Daly’s biography “The Book of Mychal” — where she learned about Steven McDonald.
“I read about walk, and knew I wanted to participate,” the recalled Ward. “I began saving financially. After a good number of years, I had enough and booked myself for 2016.”
She was thrilled to meet McDonald, and the two became pen pals — with the cop clenching a pen in his teeth to sign his missives.
His death convinced Ward to return this year.
“I volunteered to help in any way I can to ensure that Father Judge, 9/11 and Detective McDonald are never forgotten,” she said. The walk follows the 3-mile route taken by Judge to Lower Manhattan on the morning of the attack. The priest left the W. 31st St. friary, climbed into his Fire Department car and headed south to the burning towers. The walk will proceed as usual: The group gathers to pray the Rosary and attend Mass at the St. Francis of Assisi Church before walking downtown, stopping at firehouses and police precincts.
It ends at St. Peter’s Church — where Judge’s body was placed on the altar after his death. Bates acknowledged this year’s event is a bit melancholy.
“I’m not going to kid you, it’s been a very difficult six months for all Steven’s dear friends,” said Bates. “I think you never know how close you were to somebody until you lose them. And I miss Steven every day.”
Keenan, invoking the famous quote from St. John Crysostom, says both departed Irishmen will walk with the group this year.
“Those whom we love and lose are no longer where they were before,” said Keenan. “They are now wherever we are.”