Philly Firefighter Found Dead in Station Gym
Source Philadelphia Inquirer
Firefighter Gabriel Lee, who died during a night shift in North Philadelphia Saturday, was a kind and soft-spoken father of three who had worked in the department for more than 20 years, his family said Sunday.
Lee, 42, of East Germantown, was also an accomplished amateur boxer, said his mother-in-law Faustine Myers, and he was recently baptized at Second Baptist Church of Germantown, the same church where his son sings in a choir.
"He was a wonderful man," Myers said.
For each of those reasons and more, Lee's sudden death Saturday night was a complete surprise, Myers said.
"We're just still in shock," she said from Lee's house Sunday, where family had gathered to mourn. "This was so unexpected."
City officials have not yet disclosed Lee's cause of death, saying that an investigation is ongoing.
Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel on Sunday declined to elaborate, though he did say that Lee had responded to various calls Saturday night at Ladder Company 12, 1325 West Cambria Street in North Philadelphia.
"It's still early, and certainly we'll provide more information to everybody when we have more," Thiel said.
Lee, of East Germantown, grew up in Olney and joined the Fire Department more than 20 years ago, his family said. In 2001, Lee was named a winner of the Local 22 "Distinguished Service Award."
Thiel said Lee was "very well-respected" within the department, something evident on Saturday night as more than 100 firefighters gathered at Temple University Hospital around 1 a.m. as news of his death spread.
The Fire Department tweeted a picture of Lee's gear on Sunday, saying: "A great firefighter who always gave his all, [and] a great friend who always had your back."
Lee had three children, according to Myers: son Eric, 17, daughter Gabrielle, 11, and son Chase, 8. Lee regularly attended his children's sporting contests or musical events, Myers said.
She described him as a gentle and quiet man who loved serving others, and said his death was particularly jarring since the family believed that Lee - who loved to box - was in good physical shape.
Myers said the family was unsure what had caused Lee's death and was awaiting the results of an autopsy.
In the meantime, family and friends were gathering to mourn his early loss.
"His spirit has gone on," Myers said. "But we miss him being here."
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