Hundreds Honor 'Everyday Hero' John Kelly

The bagpipes and drums of the Westchester Firefighters Emerald Society set a moving backdrop for the massive firefighter procession that would carry John Kelly's body to St. Teresa of Avila for his funeral mass on Saturday, September 11. 

John Kelly, 51, died in the line of duty on Monday while trying to save fellow volunteer firefighter, and Village of Tarrytown public works employee, Anthony Ruggiero.

Saturday's procession was a massive and heroic send off for a man described as an everyday hero, who wanted nothing more than to help other people. 

All of the engines from the Tarrytown Fire Department proceeded up Beekman Avenue, shepherding Kelly's body toward St. Teresa's. Kelly's helmet and fireman's jacket were adorned on the front of Conqueror Hook and Ladder Company's Engine 37 – the last company he served with in the Tarrytown Fire Department. 

His white, honorary chief's helmet was carried on its own down the strip in front of Riverside Hose's Engine 80 which, decked out in Ladder 37 insignia and dedications, carried Kelly's coffin draped in an American flag. Along the side of the truck was the inscription "RIP John Kelly, alarm 1-1-3-6" – a reminder of the distress call that Kelly had died responding to. 

In a show of solidarity, hundreds of firefighters and law enforcement officers from across Westchester, New York City and neighboring counties and states, gave a salute to Kelly as his casket was hoisted off of Engine 80 and handed down to waiting members of the Tarrytown Fire Department. 

At his funeral mass at St. Teresa of Avila in Sleepy Hollow, he was honored for his heroic act, and also for his life and his straight-forward honest relationship with people.

He was a man who stayed away from politics, gossip and sports, and loved vehicles with lights and radios. He was always "Just ducky," a simple man who was dedicated to his work and his friends.

"Today he's being honored as a hero," said Sue Scogna, a long-time friend of John's. "But he was an everyday hero."

Friends and family recalled his unending capacity to be their savior in a time of need, no matter what the predicament. When someone was in distress, "he simply knew he had to do something to help," Scogna said. 

His family said he would have been at the site of the World Trade Center on the day of his funeral. They said it was a strange coincidence that Kelly was being buried on historic day. 

"What a true honor for him to be remembered on this day that America honors its heroes," one speaker said. 

While he went out of his way for his family, he extended his hand beyond to friends and strangers. He was always willing to be the one to do the job no one else would do. He took to this role wholeheartedly, gathering all the equipment he would need, just in case. 

One of his sisters, Maureen Chebetar of Sleepy Hollow, remembers all the tools and equipment John brought into their home when he moved in seven years ago. 

"Tools galore for every job and enough flashlights to light a plane runway," Maureen said in a statement. 

When you tried to question John as to why he needed all the flashlights, plows, radios and tools, he would simply reply, "you never know when someone is going to need my help."

That was the theme picked up by the pastor presiding over the ceremony, who said that the righteous are the people who are humble and willing to make sacrifices.

"That's who he was," the pastor said. "A righteous man who always put everyone else before before himself. He was willing to risk his own life for the sake of saving another life. John led a heroic life and he died a heroic death."

After the funeral mass, a seemingly endless procession of fire engines, ambulances and tow trucks moved up Beekman Avenue to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery where Kelly was laid to rest. 

One of those trucks in the procession was John's – it had his signature Christmas tree in the back, as it did every holiday season. 

"It was fitting to see his truck with the Christmas tree in the back of it," said Sleepy Hollow Village Trustee Tom Caposella. "Losing John, it's a loss for everyone in Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow."