Patrick (Paddy) John
Brown was born in
Oak Park, Illinois
on November 9, 1952.
His father, John,
was a FBI agent and
his mother, Ruth, a
talented pianist who
gave piano lessons
while raising her
family. An FBI
transfer brought the
family to Queens
Village, New York in
1953 where Patty
spent his childhood
and where his
brother, Michael,
and his sister,
Carolyn, were born.
Those who knew Paddy
as a child recall
that the Fire
Department was
always his passion.
He’d spend as much
time as he could at
the local firehouse.
He had a scanner in
his bedroom and
would respond to
local fire calls on
his bicycle. He
watched the
firefighters
intently and
absorbed the ways of
the FDNY.
At 17 years of age
Patrick became a US
Marine. Persuading
his father to sign a
document allowing
him a combat
assignment, he went
off to Vietnam. He
became a highly
respected and
decorated Marine
sergeant.
After his tour in
Vietnam Paddy
returned to New
York, proud of his
service to his
country but also
haunted by his
memories of combat.
He spent a number of
years on the Fire
Patrol as he settled
in Manhattan and on
December 17, 1977
Patrick was
appointed to the
Fire Department of
New York and so
began what would
become a legendary
firefighting career.
As a firefighter
Paddy was assigned
to Ladder 26, Rescue
1 and Rescue 2.
Promotion to a
Lieutenant found him
at Ladder 28 and as
a Captain he served
for many years at
Engine 69. His final
assignment was at
the prestigious
Ladder 3 on East
13th Street in
Manhattan.
While Paddy was
making a name for
himself in the fire
department he was
also busy otherwise.
His passions
extended beyond the
walls of the
firehouse. He was a
Golden Gloves boxer
and a second degree
black belt in karate
who donated his time
to teach this
martial art to the
blind. As a member
of the NYC Road
Runner’s running
club he ran in six
marathons. He also
attended John Jay
College and earned a
degree in
Psychology.
Paddy never married
but was never
lacking for a
Saturday night date
to see the Broadway
shows that he so
loved. Handsome and
very much a
gentleman, he was
actually at one time
declared one of
Manhattan’s most
eligible bachelors.
Over his 24 years of
service to the FDNY
Patrick became one
of the department’s
most decorated
firefighters. He
blended his
extensive knowledge
of firefighting with
creativity,
innovation, bravery
and quick-thinking
to perform
spectacular and
highly publicized
rescues. For many of
these he received
FDNY medals. For his
much publicized
"rope rescue" which
took place in May of
1991, Paddy received
a letter of
recognition from
President George
Bush. It always
seemed that he was
in the right place
at the right time
whether he was on or
off duty (it was
once said that when
Pat walked down a
street fire would
break out
spontaneously and
young women would
appear at their
windows crying out
to be saved.)
Monetary rewards
received along with
these medals were
always quietly
donated by Paddy to
the Burn Unit at
Cornell University
Medical Center.
Patrick was becoming
recognized as one of
the fire
department’s living
legends. As was said
more than once, the
only person that
would object to this
characterization
would be Paddy
himself. He was not
comfortable talking
about his heroic
accomplishments. He
preferred to be an
outspoken advocate
for improving
conditions for his
men. This trait
sometimes got him in
a bit of hot water
with his superiors.
But Paddy was not
beyond ruffling some
feathers to get what
he knew his men
needed and deserved.
He developed a
reputation of
bravery, talent, and
integrity and
firefighters would
request transfers to
Paddy’s firehouse
for the opportunity
to work with and
learn from him.
In the last ten
years of his life
Patrick found
spirituality and
comfort in the
practice of yoga.
Experiences in
Vietnam and
heartbreaking losses
of some of his best
friends in fire
department line of
duty deaths left him
with feelings of
deep pain and loss.
(He once dedicated
40 days to taking
care of his friend,
FDNY Captain John
Drennan, after he
was severely burned
in a fire. After
John’s death Pat
continued to be
there to offer
Captain Drennan’s
family support and
comfort.) In yoga
Patrick found a way
to focus his sadness
and anger,
acknowledge it and
calm his mind and
spirit. In yoga he
found peace.
On September 11,
2001, Patrick and
eleven men from
Ladder 3 responded
to the attacks at
the World Trade
Center. His
firehouse, Ladder 3,
is located in very
close proximity to
the Twin Towers so
his was one of the
first fire companies
on the scene. Along
with so many other
rescue workers, the
men of Ladder 3
participated in
perhaps the most
successful rescue
effort in U.S.
history. These
rescue workers, at
their own peril,
managed to safely
evacuate over 25,000
people from those
burning towers. It
is believed that
Paddy and his men
were on the 40th
floor of the North
Tower with 30 or 40
severely burned
people when that
tower fell.
Patrick’s life,
soul, and spirit
were remembered on
what would have been
his 49th birthday,
November 9, 2001, at
St. Patrick’s
Cathedral. Thousands
packed the enormous
church to
overflowing while
firefighters lined
up three and four
deep as far as the
eye could see on
Fifth Avenue to
honor and respect
this legendary
firefighter.
Pat’s remains were
recovered from the
rubble of the North
Tower on December
14, 2001. On a cold,
clear night two
weeks later,
according to Patty’s
wishes, his ashes
were spread by his
family and friends
in Central Park
along a path where
he loved to jog.
Paddy’s body was put
to rest but his
spirit and influence
lives on in the
hearts and memories
of all who knew him.
Since his death many
people have shared
personal stories of
how Paddy helped and
inspired them. He
touched so many
people’s lives. The
honors for him
continue even though
he is no longer
physically here with
us. The Captain
Patrick J. Brown
Walk now runs along
the East River on
Avenue C in the
shadow of the
Stuyvesant Town
apartment building
he lived in. Also, a
memorial scholarship
fund has been set up
in New Orleans in
his name to help
educate
underprivileged
children. A picture
drawn by Canadian
firefighter, Jim
Nedelak is one of
the most visible
tributes to Paddy
Brown. Mr. Nedelak
used Pat’s likeness
to represent
firefighters
everywhere and is a
supreme honor.
Patrick Brown was
passionate, intense,
complicated, humble,
and an inspiration
to both those who
knew him and those
who are just now
finding out about
this incredible man.
He’ll be remembered
as a devoted friend,
a dedicated
firefighter, a
warrior, and someone
who made a
difference.
