April 21, 2009 - The 4 year anniversary of Tom's Death

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BROPHY-Thomas G., of Smithtown, NY on April 21, 2005 in his 36th year. NYPD 109th Precinct, Flushing, NY. Beloved husband of Rita. Loving father of Matthew. Devoted son of Janice and Eric Schwarz and Thomas and Marsha Brophy. Dear brother of Brian Brophy, Justin and Erika Schwarz and brother of the NYPD. Dear grandson of Carmela and the late Michael Terranova and the late Frank and Mary Brophy. Godfather of Gabriella, Brian Jr. and Jacob. Son-in-law of Dana and the late Vaidotas Jakas and brother-in-law of Raymond Jakas. Also survived by many cousins. Reposing Moloney's Hauppauge Funeral Home, 840 Wheeler Rd. (Rte. 111) Hauppauge where religious services will be held 3:00PM Sunday. Funeral Mass Monday 9:45AM at Parish of the Holy Cross RC Church, Nesconset. Interment following at St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, NY. Visiting Saturday and Sunday 2-4 and 7-9PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Matthew Brophy Education Fund, P.O. Box 983, Commack, NY 11725.

In Loving Momory of Thomas G Brophy

This is the initial blog posting for the "Thomas G Brophy Memorial Blog"

Police Officer Thomas Brophy died of metastatic colon cancer that was caused by inhaling toxic materials while partaking in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Officer Brophy had served with the New York City Police Department for 16 years, and is survived by his wife and 2-year-old son. He was assigned to the 109th Precinct.On the morning of September 11, 2001, seventy-two officers from a total of eight local, state, and federal agencies were killed when terrorist hijackers working for the al Qaeda terrorist network, headed by Osama bin Laden, crashed two of four hijacked planes into the World Trade Center towers in New York City.

After the impact of the first plane, putting the safety of others before their own, law enforcement officers along with fire and EMS personnel, rushed to the burning Twin Towers of the World Trade Center to aid the victims and lead them to safety. Due to their quick actions, it is estimated that over 25,000 people were saved. As the evacuation continued, the first tower unexpectedly collapsed due as a result of the intense fire caused by the impact. The second tower collapsed a short time later. 71 law enforcement officers, 343 members of the New York City Fire Department and over 2,800 civilians were killed at the World Trade Center site.A third hijacked plane crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania when the passengers attempted to re-take control of the plane. One law enforcement officer, who was a passenger on the plane, was killed in that crash. The fourth hijacked plane was crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, killing almost 200 military and civilian personnel.

No law enforcement officers were killed at the Pentagon.The terrorist attacks resulted in the declaration of war against the Taliban regime, the illegal rulers of Afghanistan, and the al Qaeda terrorist network which also was based in Afghanistan.On September 9, 2005, all of the public safety officers killed on September 11, 2001, were posthumously awarded the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor by President George W. Bush.The contamination in the air at the World Trade Center site caused many rescue personnel to become extremely ill, and eventually led to the death of several rescue workers.