Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation Present Scholarships to Late Firefighter’s Family

Judy Simmons and her sons, Joseph, 14, Kevin, 11, and Ryan, 8, receive three $30,000 scholarships from Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta on behalf of the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation.

The three sons of late Firefighter Martin Simmons from Ladder 111 each received $30,000 scholarships from the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation on Feb. 6.

“This is a terrific way to honor Marty,” said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta. “Your dad loved you all very much and could not have been prouder to know that you would be taken care of.”

Firefighter Simmons died in July 2008.

His boys - Joseph, 14, Kevin, 11, and Ryan, 8 - stood with their mother, Judy, at FDNY Headquarters as they each received the certificates.

Many members who worked with Firefighter Martin Simmons of Ladder 111 attended
the ceremony in his honor.

“I want the Simmons family to know that the Fire Department is a big family, and you are a big part of it,” said Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano.

Dozens of members from Engine 214 and Ladder 111 attended the ceremony in Firefighter Simmons’ honor.

“He would have loved this,” said Firefighter Joseph Honan of Ladder 111. “There are few words to describe it.”

He remembered him as a quintessential father, often coaching his sons’ sporting teams.

“He would have been so happy that someone was taking care of his sons,” said Lt. Raymond Strong.