Finneran: A Violent Day, A Beautiful Life

Friday, September 06, 2019

Tom Finneran, GoLocalWorcester MINDSETTER™

PHOTO: Robert/Flickr Commons

It was a gorgeous late summer day in New England. I remember it well. As do you.

Brilliant sunshine, white puffy clouds, and beautiful blue skies dominated the morning. I suspect that every waking or walking person, every jogger and commuter, every sentient New Englander had a bounce in their steps as they contemplated the day ahead. The day was filled with promise.

And then suddenly it wasn’t……………….

The date was September 11, 2001. For younger generations of Americans, it was our Pearl Harbor, our “day of infamy”.

Osama bin Laden’s lieutenants had struck. Now we no longer scanned the sky in the enjoyment of Nature’s golden promise. Now we watched the skies with dread and our television sets with trembling anger. The images remain, horror upon horror, as Americans learned that war is a frightful ugly thing and that there is a hideous price to be paid for laxity.

Boston was the starting point for two of those deadly flights, but New York was the far too tempting target for the murderers in the cockpits. And in the city that fateful morning, a young New York firefighter named Stephen Siller finished his shift and drove home, planning to join his brothers in a scheduled round of golf.

Stephen never got to tee it up that day. Or, rather, in the end, he teed it up for God, for his country, and for his fellow man.

Stephen was the youngest of seven children. His dad died when Stephen was 8 years old. His Mom died some eighteen months later. That’s a tough road for any kid to navigate but there are blessings that come with a big family. His siblings gave guidance.

Stephen was, as noted, a New York firefighter, assigned to Brooklyn Squad 1. Having finished his shift, he was heading to the golf course when his scanner blared the news about the attack on the North Tower.

On instinct, he called his wife and asked her to call his brothers and to tell them that he would catch up with them later. Stephen himself turned around and headed back to Squad 1 for his gear.

Upon approach to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, Stephen found that it was closed for security purposes. At that point, he hoisted the sixty pounds of gear on his back and ran through the tunnel to the Twin Towers in order to help the injured, the frightened, and the trapped.

Stephen Siller died that day, helping others.

Stephen left his wife Sally, his five children, his brothers and sisters, and a huge host of friends. He also left a legacy of skill, of strength, and of devotion. His bravery and his kindness shine forth from the ashes of that day.

Stephen was only 34-years-old when he died. Eighteen years have passed for his widow and his children. Perhaps he would be a grandfather now, had he survived that violent day.

I like to think that Stephen is at peace, perhaps teeing it up in heaven with his Mom and Dad.

I like to think that Stephen’s example of love and kindness lives on within us.

I like to think that that beautiful dawn illuminated a beautiful life.

Remember Stephen Siller.

Tom Finneran is the former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, served as the head the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, and was a longstanding radio voice in Boston radio.