MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG
AND FIRE COMMISSIONER NICHOLAS SCOPPETTA
ATTEND FUNERAL MASS FOR FIREFIGHTER JAMES J. O’SHEA

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta today joined thousands of firefighters, family members and friends of Firefighter James J. O’Shea at his funeral. Firefighter O’Shea, of Ladder Company 127 in Queens, suffered a fatal heart attack at his home on Saturday shortly after completing a tour of duty at his firehouse.

Thousands of Firefighters and Fire Officers lined the streets outside Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church in Holbrook, N.Y., to pay a final tribute to their fallen brother.

O’Shea, 40, a 17-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department suffered a fatal heart attack moments after arriving home. He was rushed to Brookhaven Hospital where he died a short time later. Earlier that afternoon, O’Shea complained of feeling ill while operating at the scene of a fire located at 141-26 77th Avenue. Fire Marshals have deemed the blaze suspicious and are investigating.

Firefighter James J. O’Shea served the City New York first as a New York City Police Officer and then as a Firefighter serving in both Engine and Ladder Companies. He was awarded a Unit Citation for his actions at an All-Hands fire in Kew Gardens, Queens in 1995. He is the 1,126th member of the New York City Fire Department to die as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty.

His wife Yetta and their two sons survive him.

Contact: Francis X. Gribbon / David Billig / Michael Loughran (718) 999-2056

No. 54-03

http://www.nyc.gov/fdny