The world lost many treasures on September 11th and I mourn the loss of my own gem‚ my husband Fred. Fred’s 32-year career with the NYC Fire Department brought him to many corners of New York and on the morning of September 11th he was just finishing his 24-hour tour as a Battalion Chief in East Harlem. When the alarm came in‚ he rushed to the scene along with the chief who was relieving him. Like so many others that day‚ he was not obligated to respond to the alarm but he did so out of sense of duty and the simple fact that he knew his help and expertise would be needed.
But he was so much more than just a fireman who was lost on September 11th. As an avid runner‚ skier‚ and golfer‚ he inspired our 3 daughters to reach their highest goals and set them higher once again. A talented painter and sculptor‚ our home and yard are decorated with many of his pieces‚ including a giant insect made of metal and wood on the front lawn and a front door painted purple. A self-proclaimed ‘news junkie‚’ he read everything that he could get his hands on and could hold an intelligent conversation about any topic. Essentially‚ he had a lifelong love of learning.
He had the unique ability to make you feel like you were the only one in the room when you were talking to him and that what you were saying was the most interesting thing he’d heard all day. But he never failed to end the conversation by making you laugh.
We mourn the loss of Freddie every single day. He was a magnificent human being and a beautiful soul who will never be forgotten. Fred’s memory has been celebrated in many ways including a scholarship fund that has been established at his alma mater in the Bronx and trees that have been planted in his honor.
Joan Scheffold