LARRY CELONA and RITA DELFINER
NY Post Online
October 23, 2001 -- Doubly heartbroken mourners yesterday saluted firefighter Joseph Angelini Jr. - just a month after services were held in the same church for his dad, who also died saving lives in the Twin Towers attacks.
"They are the first father-son firefighting team ever to die in New York City," the Rev. Edward Seagriff said after the funeral Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Lindenhurst, L.I.
Angelini, of Ladder Co. 4, was the "spitting image" of his dad, firefighter Joseph Angelini Sr., 63, of Rescue 1, the priest said.
"He was very humble. He was an excellent fireman," Seagriff said of the younger hero. Michael Angelini, Joseph Jr.'s younger brother, is also a firefighter and, while at the World Trade Center disaster, was asked to help carry out FDNY chaplain Mychal Judge, who was among the dead.
"Had Michael not been asked to do that, it was a strong likelihood he might have died as well," the priest said.
In upstate Warwick yesterday, FDNY Lt. John Ginley's four brothers - three of whom are firefighters - paid loving tribute to the hero who never came home.
They each saluted Ginley, of Engine 40, at St. Stephen the Martyr Church.
The Ginleys' dad, Joseph, is a retired firefighter, Monsignor Desmond O'Connor said after the service.
"With this family, the Fire Department is part of their family," he said.
And, at an upstate memorial service, Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik recounted how he first met Sgt. John Coughlin of Emergency Service Squad 4 last year when his own daughter - 5-month-old Celine Kerik - had trouble breathing.
It was Aug. 25, 2000, and the commissioner's wife, Halah, had dialed 911. FDNY paramedics were dispatched, and the commish rushed home.
"Sgt. Coughlin was a big guy," Kerik said, pointing to his uniform shirt displayed on the altar at St. Boniface Church in Wesley Hills.
"So, when I get home there's this big guy holding my daughter," he said.
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