Staten
Island Advance 2001 Jonathan R. Hohmann Firefighter Devoted to
Family, Faith Saturday, September 29, 2001
Jonathan
R. Hohmann knew there were risks as a firefighter, but he also
had faith that if anything were to happen to him he would be with
God. That thought has been a source of comfort to his wife, Rosemarie,
since her husband died, along with about 18 of his comrades, responding
to the call to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. In his 13 years
with the fire department, the 48-year-old Staten Island native
moved up the ranks until he eventually joined Hazardous Materials
Co. 1 in Queens. Although he left for work each morning at 5 a.m.,
he remained devoted to his church, his wife and his sons. When
he wasn’t working, he spent time with his sons, bowling
with Matthew, 14, or watching 11-year-old Gregory basketball.
Dedicated to faith, family and expanding the tools of his trade
-- that was Firefighter Jonathan R. Hohmann. In his 13 years with
the Fire Department, the 48-year-old Tottenville native moved
up the ranks until he eventually joined Hazmat Co. 1 in the Maspeth
section of Queens. He was a skilled mechanic -- taking on a second
job as the master mechanic for a trucking company in Queens --
left for work each morning at 5 a.m. and was devoted to his church,
his wife and his two young sons. "My husband loved to learn
things," said his wife of 17 years, the former Rosemarie
Francavilla. "As long as he was learning things, that made
him happy." "He will always be my hero," she added.
"He was a proud man, of his family and his children."
Like so many of his fellow firefighters sent to the scene of the
World Trade Center disaster, the Annadale resident continually
added to his resume of life-saving skills. He had recently attended
a training session in Alabama; learned early on in his career
how to drive a Fire Department truck, and spent time in the department's
Marine Division. With Hazmat, he was trained for events like the
tragedy that unfolded on Sept. 11. So it should serve as no surprise
that Mr. Hohmann and his crew were outside the Twin Towers 18
minutes after the planes hit. His squad was assigned to Tower
1 between the second and 12th floors. Now, Mr. Hohmann and 18
of his comrades are among the missing. But it is his faith --
acted out in daily readings of the Bible and regular activities
with his sons and the youth ministry of Bethel Evangelical Free
Church in Eltingville -- that have helped Mrs. Hohmann through
this time. "He knew that if anything happened to him, he'd
be in the Lord's presence, and that comforts me," she said.
"His faith was everything for him." He was always with
his sons, whether it was bowling with Matthew, 14, or watching
11-year-old Gregory play basketball. Mr. Hohmann also went on
youth ministry trips with the boys to Lake George, N.Y., and Philadelphia.
The Sunday before the attack, the Hohmann family, complete with
Scooter their dog, spent the day in Wolfe's Pond Park. "It
was a real good family day together," Mrs. Hohmann said.
"I'm glad we have that memory of him." The family was
also known to take longer trips, visiting points all over the
East Coast. Earlier this year, they went to Tennessee. Mr. Hohmann
found it peaceful and beautiful. "He said, 'I think we found
the place we're going to retire to,'" Mrs. Hohmann said.
"There were beautiful lakes and the people were wonderful."
Mr. Hohmann, a 1971 graduate of Tottenville High School, and his
family moved to Annadale in 1995. The Sunday before the attack,
the Hohmann family, with their dog, Scooter, spent the day in
Wolfe's Pond Park, a memory his wife said she will cherish.
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