Raymond
York, a 20-year veteran of the New York Fire Department, had every
reason not to be in harm's way Tuesday. The 45-year-old husband
and father of four had been placed on light duty with a shoulder
injury and was giving a TV interview at Rockefeller Center when
he saw the first airliner strike the World Trade Center on the
camera crew's television. York headed for the scene, hopping on
an ambulance. He had just reached the fire command post when Tower
Two collapsed. York is presumed dead. "He saw that this had happened
and he couldn't sit still," said York's mother-in-law, Rosemary
Abruzzino.Abruzzino said her son-in-law had a passion for life,
his family and his job. "I know people say only good things about
people after they die, but in his case, we don't have to embellish
anything," she said. "He was a great man and a tremendous father
to his children." Among York's interests was kayaking, and he
had planned a trip Wednesday. He had started a kayaking club for
firefighters and dubbed it "Blazing Paddles." -- Liam Ford (The
Chicago Tribune)
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