Fame
and Firefighting
Sometimes the spotlight lands on a New York City firefighter and
just stays there. That's what happened to Thomas Foley, 32, a
member of Rescue Company 3 in the Bronx.
Two
summers ago he helped rescue construction workers dangling from
a broken scaffold 12 stories above the street. "Don't worry,"
he told one of them. "You'll be going home to your family
tonight." He got plenty of TV time for that, which blossomed
into bit parts in "Third Watch" and "The Sopranos."
Then he posed shirtless for People magazine's list of 100 most
eligible bachelors last year.
"It
was one of the most popular photos in that issue," said Carol
Wallace, People's managing editor.
Mr.
Foley, who lived in Nyack, N.Y., started out shy, said Joanne
Foley Gross, his sister. But as an adult, he pursued interests
like bull riding and hunting and turned his German shorthaired
pointer, Maggie, into a field-trial champion. He was "always
the life of the party," said Danny Foley, his brother and
a firefighter with Engine Company 68.
When
it came to firefighting, "he said it was the best job in
the world and he would never give it up, ever," remembered
a cousin, Christina Cimmino. "No matter how famous he got."
Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on December 7, 2001.
A decorated New York City firefighter who a year ago rescued two
construction workers dangling from the outside of a building,
Thomas Foley was among the first rescue workers to arrive at the
World Trade Center.
Foley,
32, was among the most notable firefighters in New York. Last
year, he was listed as among the nation's 100 most eligible bachelors
by People magazine. He also recently had a bit part on "The
Sopranos,' scheduled to be shown next year.
"He
never wanted to be anything else other than a fireman," said
Serena Cantor, a former New Yorker who met Foley when he was a
boy. "He became a volunteer fireman at the age of 18."
Upon
reaching one of the two men whose scaffolding collapsed last year,
Foley told People magazine: "I told him don't worry. You're
going home to your family tonight."
Profile courtesy of THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE.
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