Thomas Hetzel was attached to Ladder Co. 13 on the Upper East Side and is believed to have been rescuing victims at Two World Trade Center when it collapsed.
An Elmont resident, Hetzel went to H. Frank Carey High School in Franklin Square and studied liberal arts at Nassau Community College. A firefighter for more than five years in the city, he also was a member for 15 years of the Franklin Square Volunteer Fire Department.
"He wanted to be a firefighter since he was 5," said his sister, Dorine Hetzel. She recalled that as a youngster he once painted his bicycle red to emulate a fire engine. Hetzel received a commendation from the city because of his efforts in helping motorists during a major flood on FDR Drive.
Dan Hetzel, who bears a resemblance to Thomas, said with pride about his older brother. "He always had a built-in quality as a leader. From a boy, he turned into what you want yourself to be, a man," he said.
He played golf, softball, and was a superb skier, taking to the slopes of Colorado each year with his wife. Tom was proud of his German heritage and often prepared traditional German meals at home and at the firehouse. He proudly played his German music, danced the polka,
"Tom was a passionate and dedicated firefighter who lead by example", said Capt. Jim Grismer, his FDNY mutual partner from Ladder Co. 13 and close friend. Capt. Grismer named his first child Thomas after firefighter Hetzel.
In addition to Dan and Dorine, Thomas is also survived by his parents Barbara and Egon Hetzel, his wife Diana and their daughter Amanda. Thomas Hetzel is preceded in death by his sister Christina.
Kilburn Road South in Garden City South is now known as Thomas J. Hetzel Road in honor of him.
