Firefighter McNamara Remembered As 25th Anniversary Of 9/11 Nears

FDNY firefighter John F. McNamara spent more than 500 hours at the World Trade Center in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, digging through the rubble to help bring closure to families who had lost loved ones.

The Blue Point resident would ultimately become one of the many first responders who lost their lives to illnesses linked to their work at Ground Zero.

McNamara was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in 2006, while his wife, Jennifer, was pregnant with their son, Jack. He died in August 2009 at age 44.

Even as he battled cancer, McNamara continued helping others. He co-founded the New York City Firefighter Brotherhood Foundation and advocated in Washington and New York for the James Zadroga Health and Compensation Act, which provides health care and compensation for those affected by the 9/11 attacks.

McNamara was also a member of the Blue Point Fire Department and remained deeply connected to his community.

Before his death, one of his wishes was to see a community center created in Blue Point where teenagers could gather and stay out of trouble. Jennifer later founded the Johnny Mac Foundation in his memory to continue that mission of helping others.

Today, the teen room at the Bayport-Blue Point Library bears McNamara’s name.

Rev. Bill Minson, a chaplain who served at Ground Zero and has spent decades comforting first responders and families following tragedies across the country, spoke about McNamara during a recent presentation at the library attended by Jennifer.

Minson called McNamara one of the bravest men he had ever known, remembering how the firefighter continued encouraging and helping others even as he lay seriously ill.

“John McNamara will be my hero until my last breath,” Minson said. “You’re never going to see a better cheerleader for people than John.”