Everyone felt safe around firefighter Steven Coakley
by Carolyn James

Steven Coakley with his girlfriend Linda New

As a younger man, Steven Coakley wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do for a living. But then a stint as a volunteer firefighter with the Wyandanch Fire Department set him on the course to become a New York City firefighter, a job he loved and one that offered him entrance into a special brotherhood that binds together firefighters throughout the country.

That special bond is now the source of strength and comfort to Steven Coakley’s family as they struggle over the grief of his loss at the World Trade Center September 11.

"There is nothing like it in the world," said Vincent Coakley, Steven’s father as he spoke of the camaraderie in the department that has now extended to him, his wife and their daughter. "They spend days together, sharing meals and sharing their lives, and they learn to rely upon each other with their lives, which is why they are so close."

The strength of that bond became clearer to the family immediately following the September 11th terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Steven’s sister, Kara Walker, had heard that her brother was missing and went to a local store to buy an American flag in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she lives. The store was out of flags and Walker was distressed. She wanted to put up a flag at her home as she waited and prayed for word on her brother.

A store manager became aware of Walker’s problem and notified the local fire department. Within hours, a representative of the department called her.

"They said they were taking down the flag that was flying in front of the firehouse and wanted to know if they could come over and present it to me in a small ceremony," said Walker who was touched by the outpouring of friendship she received in her home town. "It made me feel very special and very proud, even though there were a lot of tears."

Steven Coakley’s mother spoke about the consolation she got from the calls and visits from other firefighters over the past two and a half months.

"Many of them came from other parts of the country and were complete strangers," she said. "At this point in time the brotherhood of the Fire Department has played a part more important than anything else. They will all be our sons now."

Steven Coakley grew up in Deer Park and graduated from Deer Park High School. He attended Wilson Tech and got a license as a long-haul truck driver and then worked as a tree trimmer with the Town of Babylon Highway Department for four years. He was a member of the New York City Fire Department for 16 years, stationed at #217 Engine Company in Bedford Stuyvesant.

He recently purchased a home in Madeira Beach, Florida and completely renovated it, doing much of the work himself with the help of friends. He also purchased a 25-foot Bertrum boat, restoring it to "meticulous," condition said his father.

"He was looking forward to retiring to his home in Florida in four years and had set aside part of the house for us," said his father. "The house had a beautiful view of the water and he loved it down there."

"He was the typical older brother—always teasing me when I was growing up but protecting me if anyone else ever did," said his sister. "He enjoyed life and made everyone around him feel safe."

"Over the years I got to know him, our relationship matured and we were at the point where were talking about very personal things like family and our futures," said his brother-in-law Edmund Walker. "He played hard and worked hard."

Edmund Walker said that when he and his wife and children would visit Steven in his home in Florida, he was always sure that things would be well under control. "He would have everything planned out and I never worried when my family was down there without me because I knew he would take good care of them."

In addition to his mother and father Caroline and Vincent Coakley of Deer Park, and his sister and brother-in-law, Kara and Edmund Walker of Charlotte, North Carolina, Steven Coakley is survived by his girlfriend Linda New of Florida; his nieces Tiffany, Brandi and Courtney Walker of Charlotte, his grandmother Cornelia Teodorowicz of Queens, and his aunt and uncle, Pat and Michael Teodorowicz of New Jersey and many cousins. His grandfather Michael Teodorowicz predeceased him.

But Steven Coakley also loved being a firefighter. While volunteering with the Wyandanch Fire Department he was honored for helping to save the life of a woman trapped in a fire at her home in Wyandanch on January 26, 1987.

"It took him some time, but he found his way and found what he loved to do," said his father, recalling how proud Steven Coakley was when he was first sworn in with the New York City Fire Department. "He came home and showed us his badge and his new pair of boots."

Those boots are on the porch of the home Steven Coakley grew up in. After he had worn them out, he gave them to his father who, for some reason, thought it was important to keep them. He realizes now, he said, that it was a good decision.

Steven Coakley’s body has not been recovered. A memorial service was held at the Claude R. Boyd-Caratazzolo Funeral Home, Deer Park Ave., Deer Park. The family has requested that donations in Steven Coakley’s name be made to the Engine 217, 940 DeKalbAve., Brooklyn NY 11221. was held.

Back to Steven's Home Page