politics
The Man Who Refused to Sit on the Sidelines
Kevin Dowdell, a lieutenant in an elite FDNY rescue unit, taught his sons to take action. When he disappeared on 9/11, they went to Ground Zero to search for him.
TL;DR
- Lieutenant Kevin Dowdell was a firefighter who relished the challenge and complexity of fighting fires.
- He balanced his demanding career with a deep commitment to his wife, RoseEllen, and their two sons, Patrick and James.
- Dowdell's background included working as a "sandhog" in New York City's tunnels before joining the FDNY.
- He taught his sons about life and firefighting, including how to handle large waves while surfing.
- On September 11, 2001, Kevin Dowdell entered the South Tower of the World Trade Center and was lost.
- The article uses his life as a way to remember September 11th with specificity beyond rote rituals.