FREDERICK J. ILL Jr.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, October 9, at 11:00am at St. Margaret's Church, West Central Avenue, Pearl River, New York, for New York City Fire Department Captain Frederick J. Ill, Jr., 49 of Pearl River, who died with nine of his fellow firefighters of Ladder 2 saving the people they served during the September 11th terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. He is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, Mary Murphy Ill, and his children, New York City firefighter Frederick III, the third (Ladder 58), and his daughters, Lauren and Jennifer, together with his parents, Frederick J. III, Sr., and Alice III of the Bronx, his sister Jane III, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Captain Ill grew up in the Bronx, and graduated from St. Raymond's High School in 1970. Thereafter, he worked for ADT until he joined the New York City Fire Department. He also served his country as a staff sergeant (E6) with Company A of the 854th Engineer Battalion United States Army Reserve headquarters in Bulville, New York. His son remembers "My father had four great loves: my mother and our family, the Church, the fire department and the Army Reserve." From the time his son was a little boy, he knew he was going to be a firefighter, because the FDNY was like an extension of the Ill family. The Captain's brother firefighters remembered him as a leader, a man of intensity who was always hands on. "Captain Ill was always the first in and the last out at any scene. That's the way it always was," they remembered. Captain Ill moved with his wife and family to Pearl River in 1979, and became a volunteer firefighter with the Excelsior Engine Company of the Pearl River Fire Department. He began his firematic service in New York City as a firefighter with Ladder Company 43 in Spanish Harlem, and rose to Lieutenant in Ladder Company 49 in the South Bronx before he became Captain of Ladder 2 in midtown Manhattan. His career was marked by numerous citations for bravery, including Rockland County's highest award for bravery, the DeFlumere Award. He received both the DeFlumere Award and the Company Officers Associations Medal of The New York City Fire Department for his rescue of Edgar Rivera in 1999. At great risk to his own life, Captain Ill jumped on the subway tracks to aid Rivera, who had been hit by a subway train. "My father looked in Edgar Rivera's eyes, and saw how critical his situation was. He knew that there was no time to check to see whether the power to the third rail had been turned off. He knew he had a rescue Edgar Rivera," Fred Ill the third said. That rescue was successful, and Rivera's life was saved. Thereafter, Captain Ill also arranged for Rivers's son to be admitted to St. Raymond's High School, the high school from which Captain Ill had graduated. Captain Ill won numerous other awards for bravery and valor from the New York City Fire Department, including Meritorious Unit Citations for his work with Ladder 2, Ladder 49 and Ladder 43. On the day the World Trade Center was attacked, Captain Ill, with nine of his brother firefighters from Ladder 2, perished while seeking to rescue others. He was a member of St. Margaret's Church, the Holy Name Society and the Emerald Society of the New York City Fire Department. He will be deeply missed by his wife, family, parents, nieces, nephews and friends, his brother firefighters, and his fellow members of the United States Army Reserve. A wake will be held for Captain Ill at the Wyman-Fisher Funeral Home, 100 Franklin Avenue in Pearl River this coming Sunday, October 7, from 3:00 - 5:00 pm., and again from 7:00 - 9:00 pm., and Monday from 3:00 - 5:00 pm and 7:00 - 9:00pm. The Pearl River Volunteer Fire Department and other volunteers from the county will pass in salute on October 8th at 8:00pm. After Tuesday's funeral mass, Captain Ill will be buried at St. Anthony's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Ladder 2 Engine 8 Association, whose address is 165 East 51st Street, NY, NY 10022, which will benefit 10 families effected by the tragedy. Arrangements were by the Wyman-Fisher Funeral Home, 100 Franklin Avenue, Pearl River. May the soul of Captain Frederick J. Ill, Jr., together with the souls of all the faithful departed, in the mercy of almightly God, rest in peace.