NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The body of fallen FDNY Firefighter Jesse Gerhard arrived at a Long Island funeral home Friday afternoon following a ceremony in Queens in his honor.
In addition to serving New York City, Gerhard was a volunteer firefighter in Islip, CBS2’s Jenna DeAngelis reported.
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The somber ceremony was a salute to one of New York’s bravest. It started with the draping of black and purple bunting, signifying the indescribable loss, on Gerhard’s firehouse in Far Rockaway.
A ceremony was held Friday for Firefighter Jesse Gerhard at his firehouse in Queens. (Credit: CBS2)
“The fact that he’s not here anymore breaks my heart, it breaks everybody’s heart,” said Firefighter Carl Kretkowski of FDNY Ladder 134.
Gerhard’s family joined his fellow firefighters, who called the show of support a testament to who Gerhard was.
“We all loved him. He worked hard, he loved being a fireman,” Kretkowski said.
Gerhard lived and died doing what he loved. Wednesday night, the 33-year-old collapsed at the firehouse in Far Rockaway and later died.
Gerhard ran into a burning building the day before his death to rescue residents. He continues to save lives as a registered organ and tissue donor.
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“It doesn’t surprise anybody. The guy, like I said, lived and breathed to be a firefighter, to help others and even in his death, he’s helping others,” Kretkowski said.
Gerhard’s heart and other organs could not be donated due to the circumstances of his death. But he could still change 50-75 lives as a tissue donor.
“Including giving the gift of sight, including helping burn victims and a host of other injuries and conditions that people have across the world,” said Leonard Achan, president and CEO of LiveOnNY.
Gerhard is impacting lives just as NYPD Officer Wilbert Mora did after his tragic death in January.
“They live on through organ and tissue donation and help others live on through that generosity,” Achan said.
Gerhard’s cause of death has not yet been determined. But he will live forever in the hearts of those who loved him most.
“He made a friendship, a bond with all of us here that will never be broken,” Kretkowski said.
Approximately 9,000 people in New York are waiting for an organ donation. These first responders are inspiring others to become donors, which is critically important, according to LiveOnNY.