Nephew
honors lost uncle's life
Foundation in firefighter's name aids autistic children
by
Cynthia Everson
The University Times
September 12, 2003
Brian Herbst, a junior at UNC Charlotte, never thought his uncle
would fall victim to a terrorist attack.
Chief of hazardous materials operations at the New York City Fire
Department, John "Jack" Fanning served on domestic preparedness
panels from Maryland to Harvard.
He
was an anti-terroism expert who was among the first to respond to
the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 and the Atlanta bombing in 1996.
Four
months prior to Sept. 11, 2001, Fanning informed the Senate the
New York City Fire Department was not equipped to handle an extensive
terrorist attack. Yet when the trade tower bombings of Sept. 11
unfolded, Fanning was again among the first to respond.
Unfortunately,
Fanning was also among the 343 firefighters that gave their lives
during this one response.
At
first, Fanning's family held out hope that he was still alive. Herbst
said he thought Fanning was "so far up in the fire department
that he wouldn't even be on the scene."
However,
after a couple of days passed and no phone calls from Fanning, the
family began to realize his chances of being alive were slim.
One
New York City firefighter told them Fanning was last seen helping
people out in the lobby after setting up a command center at the
second tower.
"Fanning
was the most humble person," said Herbst. "He was a soft-spoken,
great guy. He never had a bad word to say about anybody."
When
people asked Fanning what he did for a living, he did not mention
his medals or awards.
"He
just said, 'I'm a firefighter,'" said Herbst.
Fanning,
despite his humility, was much more than a firefighter. He was also
a man of character, service and vision. That vision centered around
his two youngest children, Sean, 15, and Patrick, 7, both of whom
have low-functioning autism.
"At
the end of August 2001, Jack told me that if we won the lottery,
[we would] buy a group home for autistic kids," said Fanning's
wife, Maureen.
His
vision became the cornerstone for what is now called the Jack Fanning
Memorial Foundation, a not-for-profit group comprised of families
and friends of children with autism.
"One
of Jack's last conversations was about the foundation," said
Maureen.
In
Fanning's obituary, the family requested donations for the foundation
in lieu of flowers.
Such
individual donations helped the Jack Fanning Memorial Foundation
develop into an organization to help autistic children throughout
the United States.
The
Jack Fanning Memorial Foundation moves toward fulfilling that dream
in honor of the man who first envisioned it.
The
foundation recently received state approval for two six-bed group
homes. The first of which is anticipated to be opened later this
year and be called the "Jack Fanning House."
Herbst
is the public relations director of the Jack Fanning Memorial Foundation.
To Herbst, the Jack Fanning Memorial Foundation is important, not
just because it honors his uncle, but also because the needs of
children with autism are so great.
"They
need to be looked after all the time," said Herbst. "Once
they get to be a certain age, they need to be sent to homes where
they can be cared for by people who have the specialized training
necessary to look after them."
The
lack of funding for such programs and homes leaves many autistic
children without the care they need.
"There
are just not enough opportunities out there for them," said
Herbst. "There are not enough houses. There are not enough
people. The needs aren't being met."
The
Jack Fanning Memorial Foundation is designed to try to meet some
of those needs, for a few children at a time.
According
to Maureen, one out of 150 people are diagnosed with autism.
She
described autistic children as being self-injurious, aggressive
and having no fear of injury. Such traits require one-on-one intervention
from the time they are small.
Fanning
and his wife, Maureen both worked full-time and juggled the responsibilities
of caring for two autistic children. Maureen hopes the foundation
will provide assistance for families like theirs who need help with
meeting the constant needs of autistic children.
"Sean
is now in a home where he can receive the specialized care that
he needs, that he has needed for six or seven years," said
Herbst of one of his cousins.
The
Jack Fanning House is the most immediate goal of the Jack Fanning
Memorial Foundation, but they have many other goals as well.
Currently
plans are underway for a Web site and fundraisers. The foundation
also contributes to other national programs for autism treatment,
education and research.
Anyone
who would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the Jack Fanning
Memorial Foundation may mail it to Jack Fanning Memorial Foundation,
307 Bordeaux Lane, Cary, N.C. 27511.
