FDNY honors fallen fi refi ghter at his Far Rockaway fi rehouse
BY BILL PARRY
The mournful skirl of
bagpipes filled the air in Far
Rockaway Friday morning,
Feb. 18, as family and friends
of firefighter Jesse Gerhard
joined members of the FDNY
and NYPD for a solemn bunting
ceremony to honor the
fallen.
The 33-year-old collapsed
Wednesday night, Feb. 16,
while on duty inside his Ladder
134 firehouse on Central
Avenue, during a “medical
episode” that was likely heart
failure, according to authorities.
His fellow firefighters
rushed to perform emergency
medical care and he was
brought to St. John’s Episcopal
Hospital, where he died.
The seven-year FDNY
veteran had responded to a
multistory residential building
two-alarm fire on Beach
Channel Drive on Tuesday, officials
said, and was assigned
as an “irons” man in charge of
forcing entry into a building
when doors are locked to rescue
victims.
Firefighter Carl Kretkowski
remembered his friend and
partner at Ladder 134 as he
spoke to those assembled outside
the firehouse Friday.
“He loved being a fireman.
He lived and breathed being
a fireman,” Kretkowski said.
“He was a loyal, loyal, loyal
guy. He’s going to be missed
and a legend in our minds.
Our firehouse will miss him
terribly.”
Gerhard will continue
to save lives, even after his
death. LiveOnNY, the federally
designated organ procurement
organization in the
New York metro area, worked
with Gerhard’s family and the
FDNY on a tissue donation to
the community.
“We can now confirm
that this generous gift could
change the lives of as many as
50 to 75 people, including those
in need of the gift of sight as
well as burn victims, dialysis
patients and patients with
musculoskeletal conditions,”
LiveOnNY President and CEO
Leonard Achan, RN, said.
“Firefighter Jesse Gerhard
joins the growing list of thousands
of New York organ and
tissue donor heroes who will
live on through their generosity
to help others live on.”
Flags were flown across
the city and Gerhard was remembered
with a moment of
The FDNY gathered outside the Ladder 134 firehouse in Far Rockaway in tribute to fallen firefighter Jesse Gerhard.
silence before the Rangers
game at Madison Square Garden
Thursday.
“Gerhard’s sacrifice embodies
the true meaning of
the word ‘hero’ and this city
will be eternally grateful,”
TIMESLEDGER | Q 2 NS.COM | FEB. 25 - MARCH 3, 2022
Uniformed Firefighters Association
President Andrew Ansbro
said in a statement. “The
entire firefighter and first responder
community grieve as
one with the Gerhard family
and will stand with them as
they cope with this tragedy.
Our deepest sympathies to his
brothers and sisters in Ladder
Co. 134 who are heartbroken at
the loss of one of their own.”
Gerhard is survived by his
parents, his brother and his
Photos by Lloyd Mitchell
sister-in-law.
“Gerhard lost his life after
battling a two-alarm fire, saving
the lives of four people in
the process,” state Senator
Joseph Addabbo said. “His
spirit will live on with his family
and the men and women of
the FDNY, especially those at
Ladder Company 134 where
firefighter Gerhard bravely
served the Far Rockaway community
for the last two years.”
Funeral arrangements
are pending. Gerhard lived
in Long Beach and was a
volunteer with the Islip Fire
Department.
“As a member of the FDNY,
and formerly an EMT, this
young man dedicated his life
to saving others,” state Senator
James Sanders said. “He
has earned the respect of the
community and this is a tremendous
loss for our entire
city. Our thoughts and prayers
are with his family and friends
and all of the members of the
FDNY who are grieving.”
Additional reporting by
Lloyd Mitchell.
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