Firefighter Paul Tegtmeier
Engine 4
Memorial
Service was held
on October 13, 2001
A Dream Realized Briefly After watching his number creep up the list of
new hires for 20 years, Paul Tegtmeier finally got the call 18 months ago
to become a New York City firefighter, at the age of 40. He quit his job
as a field technician at Verizon and picked up his crisp uniform. "He met
the age cutoff, from the time that he applied," said his wife, Catherine.
, "His was the last class taken off that list. Firefighting was something
he wanted to do since he was a toddler and he only wanted to do it in New
York City." Mr. Tegtmeier, 41, a father of two, was on his way to Ladder
Company 46 in the Bronx when the first plane struck 1 World Trade Center.
Fire officials say that he likely reached the firehouse in time to join his
colleagues as they rushed toward the twin towers, Mrs. Tegtmeier said. He
loved firefighting, and was volunteer for more than 20 years at the Roosevelt,
N.Y., Fire Department, where he met his wife, also a volunteer firefighter.
His 6-year-old son, Aric, lives very much in his parents' image. A couple
of days after the collapse, Aric pulled on his firefighting helmet, coat
and boots and fought invisible fires on the front lawn with firefighters
who came to mourn the loss of his dad
Newsday Article
USA Points of Life