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Ladder 7 Richard T. Muldowney, Jr., Fireman
September 11, 2001
Box 5-5-8087 World Trade Center
He was Known for His Courage
When 8 year old Richard Muldowney moved onto Davison Place in Freeport in 1969, he and his
back fence neighbors formed their own fire department, building a small pumper out of wood
scraps.
"Every time the (real) fire whistles would blow, all the kids would run to my garage and roll this
fire truck out, hook up our garden hoses to the neighbors' houses and kind of pretend there
was a fire," Remembered Ray Maguire of the Freeport Fire Department, Muldowney's childhood
neighbor.
That was the most natural thing in the world for the two boys, both of whom had firefighter
parents and grandparents. Richard Muldowney and his friends became feature performers at
the fire department's Fourth of July show, putting out a little shack fire for a cheering audience.
He is remembered as a "fireman's fireman," a fire officer's dream, with the extra courage and
dedication that could make all the difference in the worst blazes.
"There was not a hallway that guy would not go down, even when other people said no," said
Ray McGuire, an honorary New York Battalion Chief. "If you put on the nozzle and sent him in,
the fire was going out."
Richard Muldowney also was a skilled carpenter who helped oversee firehouse renovations and
recently crafted a felt-covered frame for plaques commemorating those who had died in the line
of duty.
And he was one of the prime movers behind "Blue Day," an all-day celebration in February for
Freeport's Engine Co. 216, said a longtime friend Joseph Sperber. On that day, they enjoyed a
firehouse breakfast, lunch and dinner, which featured Muldowney's famous meatloaf.
He was appointed to the department on July 16, 1989. He was 40 years old.
Memorial Plaque at Ladder 7
September 11, 2001
Box 5-5-8087 World Trade Center
He was Known for His Courage
When 8 year old Richard Muldowney moved onto Davison Place in Freeport in 1969, he and his
back fence neighbors formed their own fire department, building a small pumper out of wood
scraps.
"Every time the (real) fire whistles would blow, all the kids would run to my garage and roll this
fire truck out, hook up our garden hoses to the neighbors' houses and kind of pretend there
was a fire," Remembered Ray Maguire of the Freeport Fire Department, Muldowney's childhood
neighbor.
That was the most natural thing in the world for the two boys, both of whom had firefighter
parents and grandparents. Richard Muldowney and his friends became feature performers at
the fire department's Fourth of July show, putting out a little shack fire for a cheering audience.
He is remembered as a "fireman's fireman," a fire officer's dream, with the extra courage and
dedication that could make all the difference in the worst blazes.
"There was not a hallway that guy would not go down, even when other people said no," said
Ray McGuire, an honorary New York Battalion Chief. "If you put on the nozzle and sent him in,
the fire was going out."
Richard Muldowney also was a skilled carpenter who helped oversee firehouse renovations and
recently crafted a felt-covered frame for plaques commemorating those who had died in the line
of duty.
And he was one of the prime movers behind "Blue Day," an all-day celebration in February for
Freeport's Engine Co. 216, said a longtime friend Joseph Sperber. On that day, they enjoyed a
firehouse breakfast, lunch and dinner, which featured Muldowney's famous meatloaf.
He was appointed to the department on July 16, 1989. He was 40 years old.
Memorial Plaque at Ladder 7
Ladder 7 George C. Cain, Fireman
September 11, 2001
Box 5-5-8087 World Trade Center
Skiing Like the Wind
Life blew hot and cold for George C. Cain in that he made his living fighting fires but spent
much of his time on cold snowy mountains skiing.
"I have pictures of him and you'd think he could reach up and touch heaven," said his mother,
Rosemary Cain. "He could ski like the wind."
Adrienne Vartolini confirmed Firefighter Cain's skiing ability. They became friends in Telluride,
Colorado where the future firefighter worked for five years as a carpenter in the warm months
and skied in the cold. He loved the mogul runs and had no problem with one of the resort's
toughest runs, Kant-Mak-M.
"He used to just rip down that," Ms. Bartolini said. Then he got the call to join the New York City
Fire Department and they spent six weeks driving to New York in her Volkswagon van in 1994.
Firefighter Cain joined Ladder 7 in Mangattan and lived in Patterson, N.Y., though he grew up
in Massapequa. He was in terrific shape and ran the New York Marathon in 1999. He was
training for this year's event. His mates at Ladder 7, who called him the Dude, recalled he
could always beat them running up the stairs.
He was appointed to the department on April 17, 1994. He was 35 years old.
Memorial Plaque at Ladder 7
September 11, 2001
Box 5-5-8087 World Trade Center
Skiing Like the Wind
Life blew hot and cold for George C. Cain in that he made his living fighting fires but spent
much of his time on cold snowy mountains skiing.
"I have pictures of him and you'd think he could reach up and touch heaven," said his mother,
Rosemary Cain. "He could ski like the wind."
Adrienne Vartolini confirmed Firefighter Cain's skiing ability. They became friends in Telluride,
Colorado where the future firefighter worked for five years as a carpenter in the warm months
and skied in the cold. He loved the mogul runs and had no problem with one of the resort's
toughest runs, Kant-Mak-M.
"He used to just rip down that," Ms. Bartolini said. Then he got the call to join the New York City
Fire Department and they spent six weeks driving to New York in her Volkswagon van in 1994.
Firefighter Cain joined Ladder 7 in Mangattan and lived in Patterson, N.Y., though he grew up
in Massapequa. He was in terrific shape and ran the New York Marathon in 1999. He was
training for this year's event. His mates at Ladder 7, who called him the Dude, recalled he
could always beat them running up the stairs.
He was appointed to the department on April 17, 1994. He was 35 years old.
Memorial Plaque at Ladder 7
Ladder 7 Charles R. Mendez, Fireman
September 11, 2001
Box 5-5-8087 World Trade Center
"I Have No Regrets"
Charles R. Mendez was a reed of a boy who grew up to be a "good-sized" man with a heart to
match said his mother, Doris Mendez. When Mr. Mendez's father died he was a tremendous
help to his mother even though he was only 21.
"He was sort of quiet but well-liked all over," Mrs. Mendez said. "He wanted to be a policemen
first. Then he was working for a bank but when the Fire Department called him that was his
glory. He loved that job."
Firefighter Mendez's wife, Kerri, said her husband so enjoyed his job that there were many
mornings he rose early to leave home in Floral Park on Long Island to go to work. When he
was not working he renovated their old house, she said. He learned how to be handy by
reading books.
"He was always doing something," she said. "We had a million friends and we were always out
doing something. We probably vacationed five times a year. I have no regrets - we never
canceled, we never said we can't go, we just did it."
"He was just a wonderful, wonderful person. If I'd known five years ago this would happen, I still
would have married him. He was it. He was my best friend."
He was appointed to the department on October 24, 1993. He was 38 years old.
Memorial Plaque at Ladder 7
September 11, 2001
Box 5-5-8087 World Trade Center
"I Have No Regrets"
Charles R. Mendez was a reed of a boy who grew up to be a "good-sized" man with a heart to
match said his mother, Doris Mendez. When Mr. Mendez's father died he was a tremendous
help to his mother even though he was only 21.
"He was sort of quiet but well-liked all over," Mrs. Mendez said. "He wanted to be a policemen
first. Then he was working for a bank but when the Fire Department called him that was his
glory. He loved that job."
Firefighter Mendez's wife, Kerri, said her husband so enjoyed his job that there were many
mornings he rose early to leave home in Floral Park on Long Island to go to work. When he
was not working he renovated their old house, she said. He learned how to be handy by
reading books.
"He was always doing something," she said. "We had a million friends and we were always out
doing something. We probably vacationed five times a year. I have no regrets - we never
canceled, we never said we can't go, we just did it."
"He was just a wonderful, wonderful person. If I'd known five years ago this would happen, I still
would have married him. He was it. He was my best friend."
He was appointed to the department on October 24, 1993. He was 38 years old.
Memorial Plaque at Ladder 7
Ladder 7 Douglas E. Oelschlager, Fireman
September 11, 2001 (On Rotation to Ladder 15)
Box 5-5-8087 World Trade Center
A Family on a Motorboat
Sometimes Douglas Oelschlager consuming twin loves - his family and fighting fires - conflicted.
"I used to tell him all the time to get your priorities straight," said his wife of 13 years, Suzanne.
It wasn't easy.
Firefighter Oelschlager, had been a volunteer fireman on Long Island for nearly two decades
before joining the New York Fire Department in 2000. Over time he learned how to balance
things. "He would try to make my life easier so he could go to his meetings," Mrs. Oelschlager
said. He gave their daughters, Kayla and Brittany, baths and cooked dinner before his wife got
home from work so he could slip away from their house in St. James on Long Island, to Fire
Department meetings at night.
He slipped away from work sometimes, too, taking his family out on the water in their 32-foot
motorboat, Island Hopper, which they took to the Hamptons, the Connecticut coast and even as
far as Cape Cod with Mrs. Oelschlager, the first mate.
During one of their favorite vacations, they moored the boat on the New Jersey side of New
York Harbor so they could soak up the view of the Manhattan skyline.
Since September 11, Mrs. Oelschlager has become captain of the boat and Kayla and Brittany
have become first mates.
Douglas Oelschlager was assigned to Ladder 7 but was detailed on rotation to Ladder 15. He
was appointed to the department on November 14, 1999. He was 36 years old.
Memorial Plaque at Ladder 7 and Ladder 15
September 11, 2001 (On Rotation to Ladder 15)
Box 5-5-8087 World Trade Center
A Family on a Motorboat
Sometimes Douglas Oelschlager consuming twin loves - his family and fighting fires - conflicted.
"I used to tell him all the time to get your priorities straight," said his wife of 13 years, Suzanne.
It wasn't easy.
Firefighter Oelschlager, had been a volunteer fireman on Long Island for nearly two decades
before joining the New York Fire Department in 2000. Over time he learned how to balance
things. "He would try to make my life easier so he could go to his meetings," Mrs. Oelschlager
said. He gave their daughters, Kayla and Brittany, baths and cooked dinner before his wife got
home from work so he could slip away from their house in St. James on Long Island, to Fire
Department meetings at night.
He slipped away from work sometimes, too, taking his family out on the water in their 32-foot
motorboat, Island Hopper, which they took to the Hamptons, the Connecticut coast and even as
far as Cape Cod with Mrs. Oelschlager, the first mate.
During one of their favorite vacations, they moored the boat on the New Jersey side of New
York Harbor so they could soak up the view of the Manhattan skyline.
Since September 11, Mrs. Oelschlager has become captain of the boat and Kayla and Brittany
have become first mates.
Douglas Oelschlager was assigned to Ladder 7 but was detailed on rotation to Ladder 15. He
was appointed to the department on November 14, 1999. He was 36 years old.
Memorial Plaque at Ladder 7 and Ladder 15
| 9-11-2001 "Our Fallen Brothers" |
