Eric Taube Olsen

Firefighter Loved Classic Cars Dec. 3, 2001

Eric Taube Olsen was the kind of guy you looked up to, said his brother Kenneth. Good natured and easy going, Olsen brought people in the firehouse together, said his father, Taube Olsen. Born in Brooklyn, and raised in Griggstown, N.J., Olsen settled in Eltingville, Staten Island, in 1994 after his wife Kathleen died. Olsen joined the fire department 11 years ago and worked with Ladder Co. 15 in Manhattan. He reported to the World Trade Center scene just after he was relieved from duty that morning. Olsen enjoyed working on, and collecting, classic cars, including a 1965 Ford fire engine. Olsen is survived by his parents, Barbara and Taube; brothers, Kenneth, Clifford and Todd, and maternal grandmother Dagmar Salvesen. --Compiled by Newsday ******* Eric Taube Olsen was the kind of firefighter who saw good in everybody. “Hewas somebody you looked up to. He was always smiling, joking and enjoying life,” said hisbrother, Kenneth. “He led by example.” Although Olsen had just finished his shift the morningof Sept. 11, he went to the scene with his fire company. His family said he was last seenentering one of the World Trade Center towers just 10 minutes before it collapsed.“His first love was being a fireman — after that he loved being a carpenter,” said his mother,Barbara Olsen. He loved to build things and especially enjoyed home improvement projects.Olsen’s wife died in 1994.

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