You are reading

Retired Blissville Firefighter Dies From 9/11-Related Cancer

Michael T. McDonald, a retired firefighter who spent his career in Blissville. He died on Aug. 14 of 9/11-related cancer. (UFA)

Aug. 20, 2018 By Nathaly Pesantez

A retired firefighter who spent his career in a Blissville firehouse has died of a 9/11-related illness.

Michael T. McDonald, who worked at Ladder Company 128 at 33-51 Greenpoint Ave., died on Aug. 14 of 9/11-related cancer, according to the Uniformed Firefighters Association.

His wake and funeral will be held next week in Lake Ronkonkoma in Suffolk County.

McDonald, 64, died of lung and brain cancer, according to the Daily News.

He joined the FDNY in 1984 and retired in 2012, according to the FDNY, after spending his entire career at the BlIssville firehouse, nicknamed “tombstone territory” given its location across the street from Calvary Cemetery.

The Blissville firehouse at 33-51 Greenpoint Ave. (Google Maps)

“Michael’s long illustrious career as a member of the FDNY was matched by few and this Warrior will be mourned by all in the 9/11 Community as we offer our shoulders to our Brothers & Sisters in the FDNY,” said John Feal, founder of the Feal Good Foundation that advocates for first responders, on Facebook.

McDonald is the 181st member of the FDNY to die from a 9/11-related illness, according to the UFA.

McDonald is the second firefighter from the Blissville firehouse to die from 9/11-related causes, after Paul Santoro, who died in 2016.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

6 Comments

Click for Comments 
IsEveryoneAJerk?

Wow. All these ‘down votes’ for a simple thank you to a guy who gave his entire life helping a community?

20
Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

MTA opens three new modernized elevators at the Queens Plaza subway station in Long Island City

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced the opening of three new modernized elevators at the Queens Plaza E/M/R subway station in Long Island City earlier this month as part of a larger accessibility and safety upgrades throughout the transit system.

The work included a full replacement of the cab and equipment within the cab, shaft and pit, along with two new elevator head houses located at street level. Crews also made modifications to the shaft and pit as needed to allow for new equipment. The elevator machine room and electrical and mechanical equipment received replacements and other modernization efforts for reliability.

Queens Together launches ‘Unofficial US Open Dining Guide’ encouraging fans to sample restaurants along the 7 line

Aug. 20, 2025 By Shane O’Brien

The US Open returns to Flushing Meadows Corona Park this Sunday, with more than 1 million attendees anticipated to take mass transit to the iconic annual tennis event. With hundreds of thousands of fans set to take the 7 out to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, there is a world of delicious local eateries lying beneath the elevated train tracks should any fan wish to stop en-route to the US Open.

Can Queens’ food scene thrive with both trucks and restaurants?

Aug. 19, 2025 By Jessica Militello

In Jackson Heights at 4 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon, Roosevelt Avenue is buzzing with energy as commuters file in and out of subway cars and onto the street and cars and trucks grapple to get down the busy road. The street is filled with rows of shops and restaurants, along with food carts, street vendors and food trucks along the avenue. The almost-but-not-quite the weekend lag leaves hungry commuters faced with another choice to make throughout their day and the array of food truck options in busy areas like Jackson Heights offers customers convenience and delicious food without breaking the bank, two features that can feel vital, particularly with rising costs of living and pressure from inflation.