Kevin R. Byrnes

What Happened

Battalion Chief of the Fire Department of the City of New York, who died of an illness from the rescue and recovery at the World Trade Center. The department added the name to its World Trade Center Memorial Wall at the ceremony of 08 September 2011. He died on 04 February 2004, aged 62.

Biography

Kevin always wanted to be a firefighter. He achieved his first goal by joining the FDNY in 1963. He started his career in Ladder 5 in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. He worked in 88 Engine as a lieutenant and 79 Engine as a captain, both houses in the Bronx. He attained his ultimate goal of battalion chief in 1983 and was assigned to Battalion 7 in lower Manhattan. Before he became a firefighter, he was a carpenter and had been recognized for his abilities with a plaque. He was a member of the FDNY softball team, soccer team, and Emerald Society. He loved the outdoors, fishing, and camping with the family. He loved to build things with wood. He was handy in the house and could fix anything. His culinary skills were a bit limited, but his lasagna was outstanding. He was a devoted husband and father. He was a happy grandfather to four. Sadly, the next three grandchildren never got to meet him, but their parents have made sure they know about him. He was the type of man that everybody liked. He was easy to get along with and was a fearless leader. At his funeral, many firefighters attended and told me stories about him throughout his years on the job. My consolation is that he loved his job and for a man to go through life loving his job, that is indeed a life well lived.

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