Stephen J. Geraghty

Born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 22, 1959, Steve was the fourth of seven children born to James and Norma Geraghty. The family moved to Valley Stream, where Steve attended Elmont Memorial High School and graduated in 1977. From the time he was a young boy, Steve dreamed of becoming a firefighter, following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. In November of 1980, that dream came true. Steve joined the FDNY and was assigned to Engine 214 in Brooklyn. While at 214, Steve’s jobs would have him run into big brother Ed, working in a nearby firehouse. It was only a short time later that younger brother Tim would join the Geraghty brothers in the FDNY. Steve could often be heard saying, “This is the best job in the world,” and sharing stories with his fellow firefighters at the kitchen table in the firehouse. These were some of his happiest days. Steve took his knowledge from FDNY and joined the Rockville Centre Fire Department, where he often ran drills and classes teaching something new or brushing up on older skills. He was an excellent instructor with a calm demeanor and patience. Throughout his career, Steve rose through the ranks to reach battalion chief. During these years, he received multiple accolades, medals, and citations. Although he loved the FDNY, he loved his family more. His favorite title was Dad or Papa, and he was absolutely the most popular guy at family parties with all the kids. He could often be seen doing cannonballs into the pool with the kids or playing games with them. He was adored by all the little ones, and the party wasn’t complete without him.

The firefighting torch was passed down again to the next generation, when Steve’s son, Chris, and two of his nephews joined the FDNY. On 9/11, Steve worked tirelessly in the rescue and recovery at Ground Zero. He worked for months, determined to find his brother, Ed, who perished on that horrific day. In September of 2020, Steve was diagnosed with a fatal 9/11 cancer and passed away at home on September 21, 2022. He is deeply missed every day by his wife and family, his many friends, and fellow firefighters.