Full Breakdown
Gormley Brothers Follow Their Father’s Footsteps Into the FDNY
By Drooid · · How we work
The Decision to Serve
Three triplet brothers—Raymond, Billy and Kevin Gormley—are preparing to join the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), the same house where their father, William Gormley, served as a firefighter during the 2001 World Trade Center attacks. Although their father survived the collapse of the towers, he later died of bladder and lung cancer, illnesses linked to his work at Ground Zero. The brothers say their father’s example and the support they received from the firehouse community have driven them to pursue the same career.
Background & Context
William Gormley responded to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 and spent months searching the debris for survivors and victims’ remains. Over time he developed skin cancer, sinus problems and, in 2016, was diagnosed with bladder cancer—a condition the brothers later connected to his exposure to toxic dust at the site. He died in 2017, becoming one of more than 400 fire and emergency-medical-services workers who have died from 9/11-related illnesses.
Data & Statistics
- Over 400 FDNY fire and EMS personnel have died from illnesses linked to the 2001 attacks.
- William Gormley’s cancers (bladder and lung) were diagnosed in 2016 and led to his death in 2017.
- A Brooklyn street now bears William Gormley’s name near Ladder 174, the firehouse where he and his sons serve.
Official Statements & Responses
He adds that the camaraderie they witnessed among firefighters after their father’s death cemented his desire to serve.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We all, for the most part, have the same lives in a lot of ways,” — Raymond
- “Now, 25 years later, we're understanding the full grasp of what happened that day,” — Raymond
- “Once I saw the camaraderie, everyone coming together, people driving us around, his old coworkers taking care of us, the laughs, the tears,” — Raymond
- “Just being there for someone on their worst day, being their hope when there's no hope is really something special, something we take a lot of pride in,” — Raymond
Timeline
- 2001 – Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center; William Gormley responds as an FDNY firefighter.
- 2016 – William Gormley receives a bladder-cancer diagnosis; the brothers link his illness to Ground Zero exposure.
- 2017 – William Gormley dies from bladder and lung cancer.
- 2026 – Marking 25 years since the attacks, the Gormley brothers prepare to enter the fire academy; Billy may join as early as the current month.
Why It Matters
The Gormley story illustrates how the legacy of 9/11 continues to shape the career choices of the next generation of first responders. By entering the same firehouse where their father served, the brothers reinforce the intergenerational commitment of FDNY families to public safety, while also highlighting ongoing concerns about occupational health risks associated with disaster response.