.. and it doesn't even include the death of my son'd best fiend and neighbor that live just up the block from us.

My brother was in the NYFD until one day a roof collapsed that he was on he was fighting a fire. Besides having to have a knee replaced he retired from the department on a medical (75% tax free). I mention this only because one of his best friends, Timmy Stackpole, joined the department with my brother. Both worked in Brooklyn.

In 1998 or 1999, Timmy, along with two firefighters, were severely burned in a fire. Timmy was the only survivor. Obviously Timmy could have retired on a 75% tax free pension. My brother tried his hardest to convince him to retire. Tim would have none of it.

After months of rehabilitaion Tim returned to his Cortelyou Road firehouse house. On 9/11 Timmy had just finished his shift (12 hours, I believe). Needless to say, Tim rushed to the Trade Center and up the stairs to his death.

My brother has a ton of these sad stories. He must have know 20 to 30 people (and worked with several) that died.

I only personally knew 2 people that died, my neighbor and my ex-boss, Former Superintendent of Insurance Neil Levin. Neil was appointed Superintendent in 1997. Early in 2001 he left the Department and became the head of the Port Authority. That was a big mistake.