For Camaraderie's Sake
After
a 1981 stint in Beirut with the United States Marines, John Chipura
wanted to serve the city of his birth by becoming a New York City
policeman, and rose through the ranks for more than a decade to
the rank of detective. But Mr. Chipura yearned for the camaraderie
of the firehouse; his brother, Gerard, was a fireman, as their
father, Anthony, had been. In August, 1998, Mr. Chipura achieved
his dream. Thus it was that on Tuesday, after the terrorist attack,
suiting up with Ladder Company 105 on Dean Street in Brooklyn,
that John phoned his fiance, Gina DeFalco, to ask if she had any
news of his sister Nancy, who worked in the World Trade Center.
"There wasn't any news," said Ms. DeFalco, "but later, when I
heard that Nancy was safe, I called John to tell him. But his
ladder company had already left." John and the five other firefighters
in the truck have not been heard from since. Gerard Chipura, who
survived, waits along with Ms. DeFalco, who refuses to give up
hope; she and Mr. Chipura planned to marry on Oct. 27. "The only
good thing," she said, "is that he is with the guys he worked
with, and loved." Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on September
24, 2001.
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