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Firehouse loses a hero’s hero

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

By Stephen McKinley

A firehouse in New York that lost nine firefighters on Sept. 11 was stricken by tragedy again when a respected, long-serving firefighter passed away during what ought to have been a routine medical operation.

Patrick J. Boylan III, known to colleagues and friends as Paddy, had gone into hospital for elective surgery for a leg complaint on Saturday, April 20. He never regained consciousness from the operation.

Boylan leaves behind his wife, Christine, and two young children. He was a hero among heroes, according to his Ladder 7, Engine 16 colleagues at his firehouse on East 29th Street at Second Avenue. His surgery was considered so minor, that he had planned to go shopping with his wife after the operation.

“He was the firehouse angel,” said colleague Robert Kirwan.

Boylan had shepherded his firehouse colleagues and their families through the terrible months after Sept. 11, colleagues said. On April 13, he had eulogized longtime firefighter pal Richard Muldowney, who had been killed at the World Trade Center.

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“He was the family liaison officer for the Muldowneys,” said Jim Slevin of Ladder 7.

When a firefighter is killed, a close colleague is assigned to look after the needs of the family in organizing the funeral and seeing to daily problems and concerns. Boylan had been taken off regular firefighting duties to help the Muldowneys — so much so, that he was asked to deliver the eulogy at Richard’s memorial service.

“You could pick any word in the dictionary that means wonderful and kind, and it would fit Paddy perfectly,” said Slevin, who said that he still could not believe his friend had died. “He was a friend to everyone.”

At the Ladder 7 firehouse, a photograph of Boylan has now been added to a memorial wall, alongside his colleagues who died on Sept. 11.

Another friend, firefighter Joe Deserto, remembered Boylan from when they joined the fire academy, more than 17 year ago.

“We were in the same probie class,” Deserto said. “He was 17 years on the job and you would swear he was still a probie, the way he ran around this firehouse helping everyone. He worked a lot with families, he was a family guy.”

Deserto recalled that Boylan had been off duty on Sept. 11 but like so many others had rushed to help as soon they heard the news of the Trade Center disaster.

“He came in that day and for days afterward,” Deserto said.

Boylan had been specially honored with other emergency services personnel on Sept. 18, when they rang the bell to open trading at the New York Stock Exchange.

“We were finally trying to pull ourselves together,” said Slevin, “and then to get that phone call that he’d passed away.” He shook his head in disbelief.

Boylan was laid to rest in Farmingdale, N.Y.

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