Obituary

East Rockaway native Joseph Carrigan dies after battle with 9/11-related illness

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East Rockaway native and Wantagh resident Joseph Carrigan died on Sept. 10 from a 9/11-related illness.

Carrigan worked as a sergeant at the Port Authority of New York-New Jersey and was a proud U.S. Air Force veteran, as well as a former captain and member of the Inwood Fire Department.

Carrigan spent 18 months a the World Trade Center site after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He responded to ground zero on 9/11 and survived both collapses of the twin towers, helping to rescue hundreds of civilians and first responders.

He was reassigned to the site for the recovery operation and was later assigned to the John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Emergency Services Unit and then to the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Academy there.

Carrigan was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Herma Carrigan. He is survived by his daughters, Amanda, Emily and Taylor; his sister, Joanne and brother, James (Paola); his nieces and nephews Gabriella Carrington and Sam  and Joan Gipson; and his cousins, Linda Reeves and William Gipson (Barbara).

His wake was on Sept. 16 at Donza Funeral Home, and his funeral Mass was at St. Raymond Roman Catholic Church. Carrigan was buried at the Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale.

Donation’s in his memory can be sent to the Tunnel to Towers foundation in memory of FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller at t2t.org.