Firefighter Mark Whitford, 31, called his wife before going into the burning South Tower of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. A chauffeur for Manhattan's Engine Co. 23, it was his duty to remain with the truck. But his wife knew he would not stay outside. "I knew he had to do what he was going to do to help people," said his wife, Renee.
It was his dream to be on a rescue company and on the night of Sept. 10, only hours before the terrorist attacks that leveled the Twin Towers, he was notified of his acceptance to Staten Island's elite Rescue 5. "He was incredibly happy. That's why he didn't stay with the truck. It was in his blood. He was a rescuer," Mrs. Whitford said. All six members of Engine Co. 23 remain missing. His brother, Chris, a police officer in Manhattan's 1st Precinct, spent several days after the tragedy looking for him. The fire truck was discovered. Mr. Whitford's bunker gear was not on the truck. "That was Mark. He went in all equipped," Mrs. Whitford said. In addition to being a firefighter, he was an Army Reserve Captain assigned to Fort Dix.
Mr. Whitford was remembered by his family in the following statement: "At age 31 he fully understood and appreciated each precious moment he spent with both family and friends. In his own words, 'Time does not matter, it is what we do during that time which does.' He expressed his devotion to live life to its fullest.
On Sept. 11 he used the time he had to ensure that others would have this opportunity." "The biggest thing I'll remember is he wasn't just my brother," said Mr. Whitford's younger brother, Dennis. "He was my best friend. He helped me out a lot." Mr. Whitford leaves behind twin sons, Timothy and Matthew, who are 13 months old. He was born in Tottenville and lived there until October of last year, when he moved to Washingtonville in Orange County, N.Y.
Mr. Whitford was on the wrestling team of Tottenville High School, where he became a three-time city PSAL champion and a three-time Advance All Star. He ranked sixth in the state in his senior year of high school. A graduate of Seton Hall University, he won first place in the heavyweight division of the New England Conference Wrestling Championships at Boston College in 1993. Mr. Whitford graduated with a bachelor's degree in business management in 1993. He was a financial adviser for Chase Manhattan Bank, Manhattan, until he was accepted into the Fire Department in 1997.
"His calling was to be a fireman," Mrs. Whitford said. He worked for a year in Ladder Co. 147 in Brooklyn and Engine Co. 152 in Rosebank before joining Engine Co. 23. On July 22, 1999, Mr. Whitford helped deliver a baby with a team of firefighters. He was in an Engine Co. 165, parked on Richmond Road in front of its Richmond station, when a man pulled up behind the truck and called for help in delivering his wife's baby. A healthy, six-pound, five-ounce baby girl was delivered that day.
Mr. Whitford enjoyed rock climbing, scuba diving and repelling. He was a parishioner of St. Mary's R.C. Church, Washingtonville.
Staten Island Advance, 2001