Rockaway Raises One for Pat with a Legendary Sendoff

By Katie McFadden

It was a sendoff fit for a hero and a legend. On Saturday, November 15, Rockaway stood still as all attention was directed to the funeral of fallen FDNY firefighter, and now lieutenant, Patrick Brady.

In a procession made for Rockaway royalty, Patrick Brady’s flag-draped casket sat high atop a Ladder 120 fire engine, led by an NYPD and firefighter escort from Marine Park Funeral Home, across the Marine Parkway Bridge, where FDNY firefighters stood along the pedestrian path holding American flags as the procession passed by, while the FDNY’s harbor unit sprayed water from Jamaica Bay, forming rainbows high above them. As the procession reached Cronston Avenue, Brady was greeted by a different sea of blue, as firefighters lined the street for more than 10 blocks, while a sea of red-clad members of the community waved American flags as the procession, now joined by the FDNY Emerald Society bagpipers, made its way to St. Francis de Sales Church, Brady’s parish down the block from his home.

Inside the church, tears poured like the drinks Brady made behind the bar, in between laughs sparked by shared memories of the ways Brady brought joy, while outside, Belle Harbor was wrapped in the love of the FDNY and the community who cherished the man being honored.

Assisted by SFDS’ Father Bill Sweeney, Deacon Armand D’Accordo and more, FDNY Chaplain Father Peter Purpura led the Mass in front of a church packed with Brady’s many family members, friends and members of the FDNY, while an overflow crowd filled the gym, and viewing events at The Rockaway Hotel, Jamesons, the Belle Harbor Yacht Club and more, and many others tuned in online at home. Patrick’s cousin, Catherine, read the First Reading, while his cousin Kristen was invited to read the Second Reading, his aunt, Mary Price, read the Prayer of the Faithful, and his nieces and nephews brought up the gifts.

Father Purpura spoke of the community and the tragedies it has endured. “Nestled between the ocean and the bay, this neighborhood is more than just a collection of houses or homes. It is a community. Here, generations of families have built a foundation rooted in shared cultures and enduring values. Here, the story of one’s life is interwoven with one’s neighbor’s story. Our lives, our stories are formed in our homes, in the hallways of St. Frances de Sales, on the basketball courts and ball fields, during long summer days on the beach and the evenings spent on porches and local spots from Connolly’s to the Harbor Light, and for Pat, everything in between,” Fr. Purpura said. “Yet beneath the beauty of this community, there runs a current that is always felt but seldom acknowledged. And that current is the degree to which this community has endured suffering,” he added, going on to speak about how the community was impacted by 9/11, the crash of Flight 587, Hurricane Sandy and more. And citing a response made by the late Monsignor Martin Geraghty who was interviewed among the many 9/11 funerals, Fr. Purpura shared how the parish has gotten through it all—“We have our Catholic faith. Our Catholic faith reminds us at this funeral Mass that every human life is a precious gift. Pat Brady embodied this truth. His presence was a blessing, a gift to all who knew him. He brought joy and laughter wherever he went. and his sense of humor was truly unforgettable.”

He then acknowledged those who loved the man in the casket before the congregation. “Patrick was first, a cherished son of Sue and Dennis, a beloved brother, to Jimmy and to Brian. The gift of his life extended far beyond the large Brady clan to the entire Rockaway community and the countless friends and eventual fellow firefighters who considered Pat not simply a friend, but a best friend. In marriage, Patrick shared the gift of his life with Kara, a choice filled with love, devotion, and a shared hope for the future. His love for you, Kara, was no April Fools,” Fr. Purpura said, referencing Brady’s surprise April Fool’s Day wedding in 2023. “Kara, we stand with you. We will continue to support you and love you. And you know that you will never walk this road alone,” he said.

And lastly, the great sacrifice Brady made while battling a blaze in Brownsville, Brooklyn on November 8, when he suffered from cardiac arrest while working the roof to save others. “Firefighter Pat Brady spent his final moments serving others alongside his brothers of Ladder Company 120. To the very end, Pat gave himself completely to save and to protect. He lived out his calling as a New York City firefighter with unwavering dedication,” Fr. Purpura said.

Filling in for Mayor Eric Adams, who had attended Brady’s wake earlier in the week, but was in Israel on Saturday, First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro spoke of Brady’s service to the city. “What does it mean to be a firefighter? Because when firefighters rush into burning buildings and climb those ladders to get to the roof, they don’t ask who’s in the building. They don’t ask what their race is, their religion, or their socioeconomic background. They only care about saving lives. And to me, that’s the definition of a hero. Patrick Brady was a hero,” Mastro said.

Outgoing FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker, shared the things he learned about “the gift that is Patrick Brady” through hearing stories since his passing. “This guy was like the king of the Rockaways,” he said. He learned Brady to be “the person that lights up the room, as the person whose friend you must be,” the initiator of group chats, a diehard Jets fan, a lover of sharks, a prankster, a loyal friend and dedicated firefighter, and much more. He learned these things while being surrounded by Brady’s family and friends, even for a visit to Margie’s, where Tucker had his first-ever Irish coffee, in memory of Brady, known to dip his nose into the foam, an act Tucker passed on.

“I encourage all of you to be like Pat, to start a group chat, to drink Irish coffee, and to be a shark. And so, heeding my own advice, I want to do my first shark-like thing that we don’t do typically in the FDNY,” Tucker said. “And it is out of a sense of great love, an abundance of gratitude for all that Pat did for the FDNY, for the gift of Pat, that I posthumously promote him to the rank of lieutenant in the FDNY,” he ended, as the attendees stood and filled the church with applause.

Battalion Chief Scott Coyne, recently promoted from captain of Ladder Company 120, spoke of the ways Brady served as an FDNY firefighter, ending as a “roofman” that everyone looked up to. “I remember Patrick as a brand new probie in Engine Company 227, the king of the hill. He carried himself like a senior man. Eventually, after establishing himself at Engine Company 227, he transferred to 120 Watkins Street. He was ecstatic. He was ever so happy to be in 120 truck and started at the most junior of positions. As he matured and gained experience, he eventually was given the roof position. What is the roofman to the outsiders? The roofman is the most senior of positions requiring experience, knowledge, and discipline. It is a selfless, isolated, and extremely dangerous position. The roof position was tailor made for Pat. Nothing shall deter the roofman. It is a position that touches everyone.

“Unfortunately, that night, his heart stopped on that roof. But unlike that night, Patrick’s heart will always be alive and well, beating harder than ever before. It is beating for all of us. Patrick’s heart will never stop,” Coyne said. “His love for life, happiness, laughter, and making this world a better place. It will be timeless, a tradition that should always continue with us. Patrick, my friend, you did an outstanding job. You will forever be protecting over us as everyone’s roofman.”

Next, Brady’s friend and co-worker, Lieutenant Kevin Healy from Ladder Company 168, shared that Brady had other plans for that day, November 15. “Patty set a date for a firehouse mustache bash that we would do every year. And I knew that I had something planned for November 15, but I just couldn’t really remember what it was. This definitely wasn’t what Pat was planning, but I think we can all agree that we feel his presence here today,” Healy said, with a mustache he had grown out for the pre-planned event. Healy went on to share Brady’s first experience operating a hose, two years before he even joined his brothers at the FDNY. “Pat’s first nozzle job was during Hurricane Sandy. He operated a handline with his uncle Pete and Brendan Stackpole, given to him by his brother Brian on a porch protecting his neighbors houses all while wearing flip-flops and a bathing suit. Pat’s first official nozzle job at the department in Engine 227 was on Eastern Parkway. A rocking top floor job in a brownstone. Fire out every window and Pat, a probie at the time, absolutely crushed it.” Healy went on to speak of Pat’s love for his last firehouse, Ladder 120, and especially his family and friends. “Pat was already a Rockaway legend. Now, he will forever stand amongst the legends of Watkins Street and the legends of the FDNY. Knowing Pat, this is only the beginning of his legacy.”

Bernadette (Heeran) McCann, born just two months before her next-door neighbor, Pat, on Beach 129th Street, shared personal memories of her lifelong best friend, in between laughs, as “this is what he would want.” McCann recalled childhood memories on the block, “129 for life.” She shared, “This last week is a true testament to how Pat was larger than life and how many lives he touched. Pat had so many friends and he made everyone feel like they were his best friend because he had an inside joke for everybody,” she said, sharing a few of her own. She also spoke of his love of food, including from Rockaway’s local eateries. “Deli workers and bagel stores are devastated. The guy treated them like family,” she said to laughs. Plus the snacks he snuck from his mother Sue’s “snack treasure chest,” that he had cut a hole into after she put a lock on it, to her peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and her meatloaf, but he always found room for more as he visited the Heeran house next door. He was the guy who had Mister Softee on speed dial and shared photos of his eats with friends, but his love extended beyond food. McCann spoke of his love for the Jets, Shark Week, Marathon Day, although he never ran it himself, and most importantly, the love of his family, including his wife, Kara, and the friends he treated like family.

McCann shared some words of wisdom his parents instilled in them all. “Pat’s mom said in an interview after Hurricane Sandy about the three Fs—faith, family, and friends. Everyone here in this community cares about each other because that is Rockaway. And in the words of Pat’s dad, Dennis, and something I say to my daughters all the time, treat people the way you want to be treated because Pat truly lived that. He always went the extra mile. Not running the marathon though,” she said to laughs.

“Thank you to Dennis and Susan for raising a son and a man who made everyone feel happy and loved,” McCann continued. “He was special to so many people and that’s a testament to the wonderful job you did as parents. Jimmy and Brian, I know how hard this is, but Pat loved being your brother and more importantly an uncle to all your beautiful children. Oh, Kara, the love of his life. He adored your life together. You both are the best aunt and uncle to all these beautiful children because you both all loved them like your own. Your love for each other was like no other. He’s going to watch over you and of course Konan, too. his beloved dog. Pat Brady was a husband, a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend, a firefighter, a true American hero—a legend.”

Lastly, Pat’s cousin and fellow firefighter, Peter Brady, spoke on behalf of the family. “There may be a lot of Bradys in Rockaway, but it’s safe to say Pat was the apex Brady. He had the unique ability to be the most popular, coolest guy with absolutely none of the ego. His popularity came from his pure thoughtfulness. He had a dangerous combination of Sue’s confidence and humor and Dennis’ strength, which made him the life of the party. Being related to Pat was a badge of honor and a VIP ticket to a good time,” Peter Brady said. He thanked Pat for bringing Kara into their lives, even though “in typical Brady fashion, he waited approximately a decade to make it official.” He also acknowledged Pat’s nieces and nephew. “Your uncle Pat loved you so very much. Although your hearts are heavy, always carry Uncle Pat’s spirit in the stories you share. And know he will forever be watching over you. Embrace life with the same enthusiasm and kindness that he embodied,” Peter Brady said. He also spoke about Pat’s love for the community. “When you love Rockway as much as Pat did, it’s easy to see why he treated everyone like family. When he crossed that bridge, he was home. 129th Street was his living room, his kitchen, and so much more. We all knew Pat from the Rockway Strong sticker on the back of his car. But now it’s our turn to be Rockaway Strong.” Peter Brady ended by talking about Pat’s love of music and how he recorded a song in tribute to the legend that was Pat Brady.

As “Raise One for Pat Boys,” a song created by Peter Brady, Taylor Searing and Bobby Butler, was played, members of the FDNY brought out Brady’s casket, where it was blessed by Cardinal Timothy Dolan himself, and Kara Brady was presented with Pat’s Ladder 120 helmet, before the procession continued through the streets of Rockaway, Broad Channel and Howard Beach, continuing to be met by a sea of neighbors in red, waving flags as the procession made its way to Brady’s final resting place at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.

Photos by FDNY, Ray Donohue, Theresa Glassman Wade, Edil Cuepo, the Neinast Team.