William C. Rumble

William Clarence Rumble, 82, of Wappingers Falls, NY died peacefully on January 8, 2026 surrounded by his loving family at Taconic Rehabilitation and Nursing at Hopewell. He succumbed to an illness stemming from his rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center following the attacks on September 11, 2001.

Bill was born on May 21, 1943 in Bronx, NY and was the son of Clarence Lincoln Rumble and Edwina Greenfield Ham(m). He was a proud citizen with a 300-year American Heritage. He was descended from several large early immigrant families including the Rumble and Reber families of Schuylkill County, PA, the Hamm family of Columbia County NY, and the Greenfield family of Middletown, CT. His great-grandfather was Colonel Edwin Truman Greenfield, a Civil War colonel and a renowned inventor with dozens of electrical patents filed around the world. "Billy" was the youngest of nine children. He was proud of his big family, including his twenty-five nieces and nephews.

After graduating from The New York School of Printing in 1961, he joined the Brotherhood of New York City Ironworkers where he had a 50-year career as an active member of Local 46. He always enjoyed pointing out to family and friends the many skyscrapers he worked on. One of his proudest moments as an ironworker was the December 1970 topping-off ceremony of the World Trade Center's north tower when a steel column with the American flag was placed on top making it the world's tallest building at the time. During the immediate days following the September 11 attacks in 2001, Bill was part of the ironworkers' bucket brigade, a human chain formed by ironworkers, construction workers, and other volunteers at Ground Zero, passing buckets of debris and remains to help clear the site. He will always be remembered for his bravery and dedication to this heroic effort.

Bill had a strong passion for playing billiards and in his early days he was a patron of many pool halls in The Bronx. In 1972, when he moved his family from The Bronx to Wappingers Falls, he insisted that his new home have a commercial-grade regulation pool table. After bringing decades of entertainment, laughter, and joy to the family, that pool table still stands in its original place.

In April of 1965 he married the love of his life, Monica Ann Broderick, who survives at home. Also surviving are his son, Bill Rumble of Fishkill, NY and his daughter, Carole Rumble of Wappingers Falls, NY. He was predeceased by his eight siblings who he adored immensely; Edwin, Charles, and Raymond Weiler, Ann Cerezo, Joan Brando, Patricia Gavaris, Barbara Schmidt, and Dorothy Weiss.

Family and friends may call on Friday, January 16 from 2-6 PM at McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, 1089 Main St., Fishkill NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 17 at 10:00 AM at St. Mary, Mother of The Church, 106 Jackson St., Fishkill, NY.