Fallen WTC hero’s kin among newest firefighters
THE SON OF a beloved 9/11 hero — who was also instrumental in getting health benefits for those sickened by Ground Zero — is now part of the FDNY his father loved so much.
Terence Pfeifer, the son of Firefighter Ray Pfeifer, was one of 311 members joining the department’s ranks on Wednesday at a graduation ceremony in Brooklyn.
“This department is a family and very often children follow their parents into the profession,” FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro told the audience at the Christian Cultural Center in East New York. “I myself did the same thing 49 years ago.”
Nigro singled out Pfeifer and his father, who died of a 9/11-related cancer “a year ago today.”
He also honored new Firefighter Christopher Froehlich, whose father, retired Firefighter George Froehlich died of a World Trade Center connected illness less than a month ago.
Six years ago, Ray Pfeifer developed stage-four cancer related to his time on at Ground Zero. He eventually lost part of a leg and a kidney to the illness.
Despite his health problems, he made 14 trips to Washington, urging lawmakers to support the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
In part, because of his efforts the law was passed in 2010 and was extended in 2015. It provides health care coverage to first responders until 2090.
“Ray was a champion for all of our members battling illness,” Nigro (right) said.
“They would be incredibly proud of what you two have accomplishe d,” Nigro told Pfeifer and Froehlich. As she proudly hugged her son, a beaming Caryn Pfeifer, 56, said her husband is watching over their child. “I know his father is here with us today. He wouldn’t miss this,” she explained. “He knew before he left us that this was going to be happening.” “I worried about Ray’s safety every day of my life. Now here I go again,” she joked. “Ray is gonna keep him safe.” The 26-year-old Pfeifer said he couldn’t wait to start work at Engine 79 in the Bronx. “I’ve waited for this for 20 years,” he said. “My dad loved his job.” Nigro also applauded Firefighter Matthew Fiorito, whose mother Marianne Monahan was one of the first women to join the FDNY in 1982. “Matthew, you have some big shoes to fill. But from the son of one FDNY captain to another, just train hard and things may work out for you. Maybe you’ll end up here one day.”
“She inspired me,” Fiorito said of his mother. “She went through it without having anyone to talk to and raising three kids. That’s amazing.”
Nigro neglected to mention another graduating firefighter who is following in his father’s footsteps.
Joseph Cassano — the son of former FDNY Commissioner Salvatore Cassano — also became a smoke-eater.
Probie Cassano resigned from his job as an emergency medical technician with the department in 2013 after racist and anti-Semitic tweets he’d published surfaced.
Because he quit before he got fired, Cassano was able to rejoin the EMS after the scandal died down.