Lt. William McGinn, 43, devoted father and husband
By Maura Grunlund Advance staff writer Sunday, 09/30/2001

Lt. William (Billy) Edward McGinn of Riverdale, a former Staten Islander, was a devoted husband and father. As a member of Squad 18 based in Manhattan, he was among the first units to arrive at the scene of the World Trade Center disaster. As part of the day crew, Lt. McGinn had expected to be fully engaged in a day-long training drill on tanker explosions at the Fire Academy on Randall's Island. Instead, Squad 18 was one of the first units from Lower Manhattan to arrive at the scene of the plane crash. At 8 a.m. on the fatal day, Lt. McGinn called his wife, Dr. Anne Golden McGinn, formerly of Great Kills, to say good morning and tell her not to worry if he was unable to call until late in the day. Dr. McGinn never again heard from her husband. Sept. 11 was to be memorable for another reason. Lt. McGinn was looking forward to taking part in a charity event he had helped to organize for that evening. Other FDNY officers were to join Lt. McGinn as celebrity bartenders, with proceeds to benefit the New York-Cornell Burn Center. Three of the four firefighters who were to take part in the charity event died or are still missing. "Billy was totally supportive through the long years that I pursued my doctoral degree and encouraged me in my career," said Dr. McGinn, who has a Ph.D. in public health. "He was devoted, loving, thoughtful and eternally optimistic. He cherished his family, was dedicated to the job he loved, and approached every day with incredible energy." As the father of Liam, 8, and Cordelia, 6, Lt. McGinn was active in the Parents Association and served on the School Leadership Team at PS 81 in Riverdale. He coached Liam's team in the North Riverdale Baseball League and he was the den leader of Cub Scout Pack 613. Lt. McGinn scheduled his work hours to spend the most time possible with his children. Their well-being and their education were his greatest concerns, and his deep love for them always was evident. He was a regular fixture in the school yard, the neighborhood pool, and entertained groups of children and adults alike with his firehouse stories and jokes, Dr. McGinn said. >From his children's first nursery school classes on, each year he came in full turn-out gear to teach their classmates about fire prevention and what to do in case of a fire. Many parents report that their children still talk about "Firefighter Bill," Dr. McGinn said. Known as the neighborhood "Mr. Mom," he was listed on many a school child's emergency contact card. When a child was hurt, parents would call Billy, often at the child's request, to diagnose or treat the problem, Dr. McGinn said. He also was able to paint, repair, build, or demolish just about anything, and could always be depended upon to assist his family or his friends with their projects, Dr. McGinn said. Born on Staten Island, Lt. McGinn lived in New Dorp and attended Our Lady Queen of Peace R.C. School, Egbert Intermediate School, Midland Beach, and New Dorp High School. He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the City College of New York of the City University of New York, Manhattan. Inspired by his uncle, the late Lt. Kevin McGinn of Richmond, his ambition and dream was to serve as a New York City firefighter. He was appointed to the FDNY on March 5, 1984, and began has career at Ladder Company 11 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. After several years, he transferred to Brooklyn and became a member of Squad 1, part of the elite Special Operations Command. He was working in Squad 1 on the day they were called to respond to the WTC bombing in 1993. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on May 5, 1994, and became an officer in Engine Company 56 in the Bronx. Lt. McGinn became an officer of Squad 18 when it was re-established in 1998. As a member of Squad 18, he regularly participated in specialized training in emergency response to extraordinary events, including terrorist attacks. In addition to his wife and children, Lt. McGinn is survived by his mother, Joan McGinn of New Dorp; his brother, Michael McGinn, and his sisters, Susan Bradley, Maureen DeAngelo, Sheila McGinn and Ellen Albro. The family asks that contributions be sent in Lt. McGinn's name to the New York-Cornell Burn Center or the Squad 18 Family Fund. A mass will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady Queen of Peace Church. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains.

Return to William's Home Page