Stephen Harrell, 44, FDNY lieutenant, gifted musician
He loved his family, his job and making music, and was loved for
his sense of humor, quick wit and kind heart Date of Death 9/11/200
By Alysha Sideman Advance staff writer Saturday, 10/06/2001 His
family came first, but Stephen Harrell had two other loves --
firefighting and music. When he attended the funeral of another
firefighter, he was so moved he wrote a song about it. The lyrics
were about the people and children the fireman left behind. Ironically,
it is now a song about his own family. As the lieutenant on duty
Sept. 11 at Ladder Co. 10, located across from the World Trade
Center, Mr. Harrell and his fellow firefighters were some of the
first to respond to Tower 1 after it was attacked. He is now listed
among the missing. Reports placed him in the center staircase
of Tower 1, somewhere between the 30th and 40th floors. Compounding
the hardship for his family, his older brother, Harvey, 49, a
lieutenant with Rescue Co. 5, Concord, is also missing. Mr. Harrell's
dream was to have one of his songs recorded professionally said
his wife, Meghan. Fortunately, he made amateur recordings of many
of his songs and some of his friends are now trying to make that
dream come true. "Having a part of him -- even if it is just his
voice -- really helps. It will help to carry on his memory for
our daughter. It gives me something tangible to hold on to," Mrs.
Harrell said. Writing songs was cathartic for Mr. Harrell and
now listening to them will be for his wife and his daughter. "He
saw a lot of people pass away in his lifetime. This is how he
dealt with it," Mrs. Harrell added. And his musical talents weren't
just confined to singing and songwriting. As a young man, he took
music classes at the College of Staten Island, and later he filled
his home and surrounded his wife with all kinds of music -- and
three pianos. "He was a wonderful musician. There wasn't an instrument
he couldn't pick up and play by ear. He played the saxophone,
trombone, clarinet, trumpet, baritone horn and piano," she said.
On their wedding day, he sang Eric Clapton's classic "Wonderful
Tonight" to his wife in front of all the guests. Born in Plant
City, Fla., he was brought to Midland Beach before his first birthday,
and moved to Westerleigh in 1993 as a newlywed. After seven years
there, the couple settled in Warwick, N.Y. A 15-year veteran of
the Fire Department, Mr. Harrell, 44, was the officer on duty
with "probies" on Sept. 11. His career choice may have been prompted
by his older brother, Harvey, but firefighting was also in his
blood. "They were six in the family, including Stephen, and all
very close. He was best friends with Harvey and Dave," said Mrs.
Harrell. "But he was always helping people. It was part of his
personality. He was also fearless. He was a natural (firefighter)."
Before he was promoted to lieutenant in 1998, he had worked as
a firefighter in Brooklyn at Ladder Co. 122, Engine Co. 255 and
Ladder Co. 157. "Stephen was not only my brother, he was one of
my lifelong best friends, along with my other brother, Lt. Harvey
Harrell Jr. -- who I call Buddy -- who also perished in the World
Trade Center that day," said David Harrell. "We were all close
in age and closer in life. We grew up together, we became men
together and we stayed together. I don't know if we were more
like the Three Musketeers or the Three Stooges, but we were three
together, forever." Before Stephen Harrell's daughter, Holly Rae,
was born, he was a member of many rock 'n' roll bands -- singing
and playing the saxophone. After she came along, he wrote songs
about her and sang to her. He continued to perform for special
occasions, including every family wedding and at Fire Department
benefits. Mr. Harrell played the baritone horn for the New York
City Skyliners Drum and Bugle Corps. He once performed a solo
of "Tonight" from "West Side Story" in Roosevelt Field, L.I. "Stephen
was my inspiration in music," said his sister, Cynthia Casserly.
"I plan to play one of his favorite songs, 'Amazing Grace,' on
my bagpipes at his memorial." Mr. Harrell was an avid skier and
took part in the Firemen's Ski Races at Hunter Mountain for many
years. He also skied at resorts in Canada, and enjoyed golf and
basketball. "In his young days, he spent many a night playing
basketball and football anywhere he and his friends could find
an empty lot. It was not about competition or winning. It was
about friendship, fun and laughs," added his brother, David. Mr.
Harrell had a very close relationship with Holly Rae, now 7, and
coached her soccer team. "She embodies everything that is good
about Stephen, and that is a whole lot. He was an original. He
had an abundance of friends who loved his sense of humor, quick
wit and kind heart. A wonderful father and husband, he will always
be in our hearts," said Mrs. Harrell. In addition to his wife,
the former Meghan Truppa; his daughter, Holly Rae; his brother,
David, and his sister, Cynthia, surviving are his parents, Miriam
and Harvey Lee Harrell Sr.; another brother, William, and another
sister, Barbara Lee Harrell. There will be a memorial service
Wednesday at noon in the Warwick (N.Y.) Valley Winery and Thursday
in the Colonial Funeral Home, New Dorp, at a time to be determined.
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