FDNY Honors Fallen Firefighter Patrick Brady
On Sunday, emotions ran high as the grieving widow and two courageous brothers of firefighter Patrick Brady attended a poignant flag-throwing ceremony held by the department to honor the fallen hero.
Brady, 42, tragically suffered a fatal cardiac arrest while responding to a blaze on the roof of a six-story apartment building on Kings Highway in Brooklyn, just after 9:30 p.m. on Saturday night.
As tears flowed, Brady’s friend and colleague, Jake Toohey, shared, “His dedication to this fire department was only surpassed by his love for his wife, Carla,” standing alongside Carla and Brady’s firefighter brothers, Jimmy and Brian, along with his grieving parents.
Brady’s passing marks the second line-of-duty death for the department this year. Known as the “unofficial leader” of Ladder 120 on Watkins Street, his coworkers expressed their admiration for him.
“There was definitely something different about Pat,” said FDNY Captain Scott Coyne, outside Engine 231/Rudder 120/Battalion 44 Station House in Brownsville.
Captain Coyne described him as an exceptional coach who always put others first. “He took care of those younger than him,” he stated, emphasizing Brady’s natural leadership.
“Words can’t do justice to how we feel right now,” Coyne added. “But Pat? He was a natural organizer, lighting up every room. Everyone could see his kindness.”
Reflecting on Brady’s life, he said, “When you look back, you want to be like Pat Brady.”
Brady, who hails from a family of FDNY members, joined the department on July 14, 2014, starting at Engine 227 before transferring to Ladder 120, where he served until his untimely demise.
The ceremony, led by department chaplain Peter Purpura, included the traditional draping of black and purple bunting along the front of the Brownsville Fire Department to pay tribute to fallen firefighters.
Andrew Ansbro, President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, stated, “Patrick came from a proud FDNY family with a strong legacy of courage and dedication to New York.”
He further expressed that Brady’s loss resonated not just within the fire department but across the entire city. “Our deepest condolences go to his wife, Carla, his brothers, and the Brady family,” Ansbro remarked.
Patrick Brady became the 1,163rd member of the New York Bravest to die in the line of duty this year, the second to pass this year. Paramedic Salif Abdul Rahman, 46, passed away on October 29 after a medical episode while on duty at the FDNY Fire Academy in Manhattan.
