9/11 Firefighter Hero Honored On LI: 'He Was A Bright Light'

NORTH FORK, NY — An annual yard sale organized to benefit those who need a helping hand on the North Fork will be held on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 this year — and pay tribute to Geoffrey Guja, a hero firefighter who lost his life when the Twin Towers fell.

The Kait's Angels Community Yard Sale will also benefit Jaclyn Hinderliter, a young mother battling breast cancer in the community.

The event will be held on Saturday, 9/11, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. — with an "all you can carry" opportunity from noon to 2 p.m. — at the Doorhy home, located 1125 Ole Jule Lane in Mattituck.

Kait's Angels, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to shining a light of giving in the community, was created in memory of Kaitlyn Doorhy, 20, who lost her life while away at college in 2014.

All proceeds from this year's event will benefit Hinderliter, as well as Guja's family, for a tribute in his honor however his family sees fit, Darla Doorhy, Kaitlyn's mother, said.

Erica Guja, 29, who grew up in Mattituck and now lives in Jamesport, was in fourth grade at Cutchogue-East on 9/11 when the world turned dark.

Her uncle, she said, was a firefighter with the FDNY in the Bronx for 23 years. "He was my father Gary's identical twin brother," she said.

According to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation , Geoffrey E. Guja‚ 47‚ was a lieutenant with the FDNY battalion. He was also a registered nurse at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Center.

"Guja spent every summer on his houseboat and surfing on Long Island’s Gilgo Beach with his wife and two daughters. Renowned for his love of a good time‚ he lifted the spirits of everyone with whom he associated," the National Firefighters Foundation said.

Her uncle, Guja said, lived in Lindenhurst at the time and worked at the "La Casa Grande" FDNY Engine 82/Ladder 21 firehouse in the Bronx.

"He was out on injury — he'd injured his shoulder in a previous fire — and he was at headquarters on office duty, not even able to work at the firehouse," Guja said. "He and a few others saw the plane go into the towers from there." After the first plane hit, they tried to rush to Ground Zero but were told they were on leave and stay in the office.

But her uncle was determined to serve, she said. He and others got out of the office and headed to the World Trade Center. They went as far as they could, then took off on foot and borrowed gear from the FDNY 10 House on Liberty Street, she said.

"They were getting closer when the plane hit the second tower," Guja said. "They went into the second tower, thinking that would be where help was needed, since the building had just been hit. He went in and did a few different rounds up and down the stairs. And that's really the last contact we have — of someone having seen him."

Her voice breaking with tears, Guja said: "He did exactly what he wanted to do, in a heroic way."

Although she was young when he died, the memories are vivid, Guja said.

"My uncle was the life of the party; he was the mayor of the town, in the way that everyone who knew him, knew him as such a bright light," she said. "He always had the most fun, and he always made sure everyone was laughing. He was a fun, bright light of a person."

Remembering 9/11, Guja said her mother was a teaching assistant at the elementary school. "I remember going into lunch and seeing my mom hysterically crying on the phone by the window. I went up to her and she said there was a plane crash and she was making sure our family members were okay."

Their teacher also told Guja's class that there had been a crash, she said. "All these different places had the news on, with snippets of images and news. It was a tough couple of days afterward — the unknown. And hoping he could still be alive."

Knowing that this year's Kait's Angels Community Yard Sale will honor his brother touched her father deeply, as well as her whole family, Guja said. "He was very moved and touched that the community has clearly not forgotten 9/11. That's what we hope, that people never forget," she said.

And it means everything that the yard sale will honor her uncle, Guja said.

Her family, who will be at Ground Zero for two days this year to mark the anniversary, has been brainstorming to find a special way to use the yard sale proceeds to memorialize the man whose life touched them all forever.

"His legacy will always live on in our hearts," she said.

The yard sale will also benefit Hinderliter, who is battling cancer and focused on keeping life normal for her young children.

Last November, Hinderliter, 34, was relaxing at home with her husband when she first felt the lump.

Because of her age, Hinderliter never thought she had to even think about breast cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends women at average risk for breast cancer should get yearly mammograms starting at age 45.

"I found a lump, but I really didn't think it was anything. I was completely blindsided," she said.

At first, Hinderliter said, "I didn't think it was anything. I was in denial." Since she'd just gone through two pregnancies, Hinderliter thought the lump might be a hormone-related cyst. She has no genetic risk factors, she said. "I didn't expect this at all."

She got the call on her birthday.

"Even when the doctor called, I didn't think it was anything. I thought he was going to say it was nothing," she said.

The news was hard to take in, she said.

"I think it's hard, no matter what," Hinderliter said. "You hear the word 'cancer' and you're just automatically in shock."

But, she added: "I decided to be open about it from Day 1, to tell everyone what I've been going through. A lot of people get the news and want to keep it to themselves, keep it a secret. It helped me, in terms of anxiety, to be open about it."

And, she said, the goal is to raise awareness: "If this can happen to me, it can happen to anybody," she said.

Hinderliter wants to tell her story so that other young women are more aware and can begin self-examinations earlier.

It was decided to embark upon chemotherapy before undergoing a double mastectomy, she said.

The first chemo "wasn't so bad, it was manageable," she said. But the second time around, she said, "It was a little more tough."

With two young children, Grant and Ethan, Hinderliter's life is a whirlwind of mom duties, and that helps her to keep her focus on the positive.

Her children, so young, "don't know what's going on. They're just happy all the time, and I just feed off of that," she said.

After the initial shock of the diagnosis, now, Hinderliter is armed with information and understanding. While the road right now has been challenging, Hinderliter has her sights set on summer, after the surgery, when her treatments have been completed.

"I know there is going to be an end to this," she said.

The Kait's Angel Yard Sale will stand as a testament to the strength of a loving community, Doorhy said.

"This day was picked to remember those who lost their lives on 9/11 and to lend a helping hand to a local young mom battling breast cancer," Doorhy said. "Kaitlyn always said God gave us two hands, one to do for ourselves and the other to help those in need."

Those who would like to volunteer on September 10 or 9/11 should contact Darla Doorhy at 631-872-2664 by texting or calling.

Students can also help work at the yard sale to earn community service hours.

Those who wish to donate their treasures should bring them to the Doorhy home on Friday, Sept. 10 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. only. "The Kait's Angels team thanks you in advance for your donations," Doorhy said.

However, they will not be accepting any medical equipment, large furniture, computers, lawn mowers, large exercise equipment, or car seats or strollers (due to recalls), Doorhy said.