Hundreds Gather at Memorial For Missing Fire Lieutenant

October 7, 2001

The sun shone over Cooper Avenue in Glendale just before four bagpipers began their march of honor and respect for Lt. Steven Bates of Engine 235.

Bates is missing at the World Trade Center site and loved ones honored him at a memorial service yesterday at the Lutheran Church of Redeemer.

Yesterday's memorial service was one of 25 funerals and services for city
police officers, firefighters, and Port Authority officers who died or are
missing at the World Trade Center.

"He was a great guy," Alex Engram, an assistant teacher from Flushing, said of Bates. "The kind of guy that would give you the shirt off his back,
literally. A real, nice cool guy. It's a shame."

Engram, who knew Bates for almost three years, waited by the steps of the church in the chilly weather while the service proceeded, as did many others who knew, respected and loved Bates.

The block in front of the church was crowded with hundreds of mourners -
firefighters and civilians as one. People waited patiently outside and on the church steps to enter the church, but entrance was highly unlikely in the midst of the service. The aisles and pews filled to capacity quickly after Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Bates' friends and family entered.

Outside, people reminisced: One high-ranking official became choked up as he said he had talked to Bates not too long ago. The two had played sports together at Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood. The ranking officer said he and Bates were the same age, 42, and Bates was single and leaves behind no children.

--Regine Labossiere (Newsday)

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