Month: July 2018

Edith Elida Torres, 46, of Brooklyn, New York City, New York, died February 8, 2017, after she succumbed to a certified World Trade Center illness she sustained in the line-of-duty.

Edith developed cancer as a result of serving this Nation in response to the rescue and recovery of the thousands of Americans who fell at the World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York City, New York, Tuesday, September 11, 2001, after four coordinated terrorist attacks on the United States.

On September 11, 2001, FDNY Lieutenant Paramedic Edith Torres was off duty but answered the call when the tragedy unfolded at The World Trade Center. She responded from home having been off that day only to find her partner, Carlos Lillo, had perished in the collapse of the towers. Lieutenant Torres worked tirelessly during the rescue and recovery during the months to follow.

Edith had been with FDNY since 1993.

Not only was Edith a skilled paramedic but she held a Masters of Nursing degree.

Frank Haffner was 87 years old and died on June 8, 2015, of an apparent heart attack after responding to several emergency calls with the First Aid Squad.

He was a resident of Hackettstown and had served as a member of the Squad since 2007.

Frank was the third-generation owner of Hafner Labs, Inc., Stanhope, NJ. He was one of the founding members of the Allamuchy No. 91 Fire Department and served there for 32 years.

Frank served as the Association Treasurer and Fire Chief from 2002-2003, as the Coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management from 2005-2013, and then as the Assistant Coordinator until his death.

Frank lived a long life of devoted public service and enjoyed it.

David J. Blausen, 32, of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, died in the line-of-duty August 5, 1971, from burn injuries sustained from an oxygen explosion July 5, 1971, while he was driving an ambulance with the Wilkins-Churchill Ambulance Service.

The ambulance that David was driving was having issues with its oxygen system. He stopped at the Churchill Borough Building to collect a portable oxygen tank to continue emergency medical efforts during transport to West Penn Hospital.

David attempted to get the oxygen system to work in the driver’s compartment. There was an explosion and subsequent fire causing the ambulance to crash.

David became trapped by his melted seatbelt buckle. The fire burned through the seat belt and he was able to escape. He was transported to West Pennsylvania’s Burn Unit. It was there he succumbed to his injuries a month later.

Peter J. Kelly, 29, died February 11, 1953, after suffering a stroke in the line-of-duty while driving the ambulance February 6, 1953.

The ambulance intern noticed Peter’s distress and had to steer the ambulance to a stop.

Peter soon lost consciousness from the cerebral hemorrhage and was rushed to Methodist Hospital, where emergency surgery was unsuccessful.

Peter was a World War II Navy veteran stationed in Newfoundland.

John F. Houy died in the line-of-duty on August 13, 1944, when his ambulance was involved in a multi-car crash at the intersection of 64th Street & 24th Avenue in Brooklyn.

The crash also killed the driver of one of the other vehicles and injured 26-year old Ambulance Driver Private James Neal along with at least six other individuals.

PFC Huoy was an Army veteran, serving two years in the South Pacific theatre. He was buried in his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, with military honors.

Roger W. Ogburn, MD, 28, of Manhattan, New York City, New York, died in the line-of-duty July 24, 1927, when the ambulance he was aboard collided with a taxi.

According to the New York Times, Roger was thrown free from the ambulance that had overturned but crushed underneath. With the help of bystanders, they were able to get him out from under the ambulance. Residents that witnessed the crash had volunteered to donate blood.

Although his sister lived in NYC, the rest of his family had to be flown in from North Carolina, where he was from and where he was later laid to rest, to be by his side.

Roger graduated from the University of North Carolina and had graduated from Medical College at Cornell University the year before.

John Leddy, 19, of Long Island, died July 31, 1919, in the line-of-duty when his ambulance collided with a sidecar motorcycle at Court and Luquer Streets in Brooklyn, New York.

John was riding along with Ambulance Driver Michael O’Donnell and Ambulance Surgeon Smith when the ambulance swerved to avoid a tandem motorcycle.

The ambulance struck the curb and turned over. John was thrown under the ambulance along with both occupants of the motorcycle while the bike crashed into the overturned ambulance. John died of his injuries. Both occupants of the motorcycle suffered fractured skulls and were taken to Brooklyn Hospital. O’Donnell and Smith only sustained minor injuries in the crash.

Mrs. Charles Meyer, the wife of noted Brooklyn businessman Charles Meyer, died February 13, 1919, in the line-of-duty after her ambulance was struck by a trolley at the corner of Bergen Street and Rochester Avenues in Brooklyn.

Mrs. Meyer started working with St. Mary’s Hospital on October 22, 1918, as a volunteer for the Women’s Motor Corps of America as part of World War I support efforts.

Margaret Devere, 22, of New York City, New York, contracted a cold while in the line-of-duty leading to Spanish Influenza and pneumonia. She died four days later on October 24, 1918.

Margaret, a well-known British actress, volunteered as an ambulance driver for the Red Cross Motor Corps. She was born in England and served the city of New York while the men who usually volunteered for these duties were away to World War I.

Patrick ‘Paddy’ Travers, 39, a resident of Belview Hospital, died July 7, 1901, as a result of injuries sustained in the= line-of-duty when his ambulance crashed on the way to an emergency in October of 1883.

He spent the subsequent 15 years hospitalized at Bellevue Hospital. He was deemed the hospital’s “oldest patient.”

“From the time he sported his first pair of knickerbockers all he thought of was the ambulance which went in and out of the big gates (of Bellevue). When he grew to be fleet enough of the foot to follow the horses he would hop on to the ambulances and neither the drivers or doctors could rid of him until he saw a sick person in it. As he grew, it became his sole ambition to become an ambulance driver. He trained for the job by piloting through the East Side coal carts, undertakers wagons or any other vehicle on which he could get a chance to take hold of the reins. He made it a point to drive as many hurry calls as possible. Attempting to beat a fire truck to a call, his ambulance crashed into the fire vehicle. This collision caused him to have a leg injury and spinal injury which caused him to spend the rest of his years in the hospital he so faithfully served.” — according to a publication from 1901.