When the smoke cleared, it affected thousands of lives.
A heroic firehouse chaplain who died 9/11-related pancreatic cancer He was honored with a plaque at an emotional ceremony in Brooklyn on Friday – where friends remembered his uniquely witty brand of “spiritual guidance.”
FDNY friends praised Rev. Monsignor John Dellendick of Ladder 170 in Canarsie – which buried hundreds of fallen firefighters over nearly three decades – to help them through humor in life’s darkest moments.
“He was there when my father suffered a severe stroke,” Fire Deputy Commissioner Mark Guerra said at the packed ceremony. “When he died, Monsignor was there to attend the funeral.
“He could poke fun at himself a little bit, but he touched people in a way that was very special and very personal,” she said, crying.
“That’s why I love him so much. I miss him every day.”
Others said the man of God had a “cool” presence – and a playful spin on piety.
“Due to his quick wit and sharp tongue, he easily mingled with the department and the members, and he was a favorite among them. He knew how they talk, how they think and what they value,” said Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker. “He was a friend and confidant.”
Delendik, who joined the FDNY as a chaplain in May 1996, died on November 23, 2023, after battling cancer linked to the World Trade Center rescue on 9/11.
On September 11, 2001, shortly before the second tower fell, he arrived at Ground Zero to help the smokers cope with the enormous grief and stress.
He later officiated at countless funerals of firefighters who died of 9/11-related illnesses after ingesting toxic chemicals at the terrorist attack site.
On Friday, about 100 people gathered at the Carnsey firehouse to celebrate Dellendick’s life as a gleaming plaque was unveiled in his honor.
It reads: “(He) bravely served this department through his spiritual guidance and compassion.”
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