2,996 : a 9/11 tribute

Gregg J. Froehner

Since his childhood Gregg Froehner wanted to have a job where he could help others. He was an Eagle Scout and a volunteer firefighter at school, had graduated from William Paterson University with a degree in Public Administration, and soon became a police officer with the Port Authority Police Department and a unit leader for the Emergency Services Unit of the PATH system in Jersey City.

Mr. Froehner was continually improving his job skills by undergoing special training in numerous rescue areas, including the courses in hazardous materials, a counter-terrorism course in toxic and biological agents, and diver training. He had participated in many rescue operations, two of them in the WTC (the bombing of 1993, and the elevator accident in 2000), and received countless awards for his rescues. He also had a talent for fixing equipment in the field with whatever materials available.

What made Gregg Froehner really special was his capacity to give of himself to everyone he encountered. According to his friends and coworkers, he was one of those guys everybody wanted to have around. He was a fun-loving and easy-going person, and he was always willing to help, sacrificing rest and his personal time until the job was completed - not aiming for the praise, his family wasn't even aware of many of the awards he had received. 

Mr. Froehner loved to play golf and to spend time with his family - his wife, Mary, and four teenager children - Meghan, Heather, Matthew and Kathleen. According to his wife, when he was at home, he was a total family man, and he loved his children more than anything in the world.

Gregg Froehner lives on in the hearts and memories of many - his family, friends and coworkers - and now, this one blogger too. I had never known Greg Froehner and I'm very grateful to the 2,996 project for the opportunity to have a glimpse into the life of such a remarkably inspiring person.

The sources, with many more details :

• Port Authority Police Benevolent Association site (the short bio and a NY Times article reprint)
• The Library of Congress (the tribute speech of Hon. Bill Pascrell, Jr)
• The Legacy.com (the personal profile and guestbook)
• The Port Authority police memorial
• Quilts from the Unitedinmemory.net

To the list of the other 9/11 tributes : http://www.dcroe.com/2996/?page_id=2