Gerard A. Barbara

Gerald A. Barbara was a 31 year veteran firefighter (Assistant Chief) in the New York City Fire Department who died in the September 11 attacks in the collapse of the South Tower at the World Trade Center.

Early life
Barbara was born in the Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. In 1968, he joined the US Navy as an electrician on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt up until 1970. After that, he later moved to West Brighton in 1972.

He resided in Staten Island with his wife and two kids.

Firefighting career
In the early 1980s, he started his career as a firefighter at the Engine Co. 91-2 on 111th Street in Harlem. He soon became the chief of fire prevention and in technical management units. Within those years, he was awarded the Pulaski Association Medal, a medal of honor.

In April of 1989, he was called to duty for a safety inspection at Yankee Stadium after a 500-pound concrete piece dispatched from the upper deck of the stadium.

In December of 1998, a fire broke out in a senior citizen complex in Starrett City, Brooklyn, killing three firefighters in the process. Following the events, he helped of the formation of a new law on sprinkler additions for multiple-family buildings.

In 1999, he was awarded Man of the Year by the Fire Department's Columbia Association

On the September 11 attacks, Chief of Department Peter J. Ganci Jr. assigned Barbara to aid the citizens in the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Barbara dressed himself in full-uniform in order to try to handle the problems but soon changed into bunker gear in order to assist citizens still trapped within the South Tower. He led a group of firefighters into the building to rescue those people in need of help until the South Tower ultimately collapsed, killing him in the process.

Legacy
His name is inscribed in the 9/11 Memorial at the South Pool on the 18th panel.

Every summer, the Staten Island Yankees hosts a game commemorating Barbara, called "Chief Jerry Barbara Night" at the Yankee Staten Island stadium.

In 2010, a memorial service was held commemorating him and other victims of 9/11 in the New York Fire Museum

In 2011, at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Manhattan, then Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg made a statement to his family, saying that he was a historical part of the city and went on to ask people attending to stand to show their gratitude to him.

He is survived by his wife, daughter, mother, brother, and his mother-in-law.