By Jeff Lipton
More than 2,000 fellow court officers, fire department members, police officers and State Supreme Court judges attended the memorial service for Jurgens on Friday, Nov. 16 at St. Raymond's R.C. Church in East Rockaway, one of the few churches that could hold such a large gathering.
Jurgens, a 26-year-old captain at the Meadowmere Park Fire Department, was one of many State Court Officers who rushed from their posts about a half-mile away into the towers to help rescue victims during the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. His colleagues, Capt. William Thompson and Court Officer Mitchel Wallace, were also killed in the attacks.
Jurgens was memorialized as one of the brave rescuers who put the lives of others ahead of their own and risked death to save others, even though court officers did not have to help out.
One of the most poignant remembrances on Nov. 16 was delivered by Jurgens' partner, court officer Joseph Ranauro, who was with Jurgens in his last moments before the towers collapsed. He said he and Jurgens were helping to evacuate 5 World Trade Center when they received word that people were trapped in the basement and they were badly burned. Four of us then went down to help, he said.
After rescuing some and leading them to safety, Jurgens headed back inside the collapsing towers. I grabbed him and asked him, Where are you going?' He said, I have to go back down there. They need my help,' said Ranauro. That's the last time I saw my partner, my friend.
He [Jurgens] was the ultimate professional, said Lt. Gerard Duffy, who was Jurgens' immediate supervisor in the courts. He was one of the nicest people I ever met on the job in my 23 years, without any reservations. The kid was an absolute gem. He really was.
He said sadness and resignation has spread through the ranks of the court officers after losing three court officers in the attacks.
Besides being captain of Engine 332 of the Meadowmere Park Fire Department, Jurgens was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, Army Reserves and the National Guard, where he served as a combat medic.
But he was also remembered as a newlywed who adored his wife Joan and as a wonderful son, brother and uncle who doted on his goddaughter Kayla Schmitt.
It was a blessing that he was a part of my life, said Kimberly Schmitt, his sister-in-law. He had a smile that could lift up a room, that's how happy he was in life. His smile told all of us that he loved us and appreciated us.
I'm so grateful that I was a part of the happiest time of Thomas and Joanie's lives, their wedding day [on June 1].
His father, Joe Jurgens, said, He's smiling down on us right now.
Tommy and I are very similar, he said. We both love the fire department and we both love our families. But the one thing that differentiated us is that he did everything with spirit and emotion.
His brother, Joseph, described his brother as an American hero, for his actions on Sept. 11, which saved other lives. What a great honor it is for my brother Tommy to have all of you here today, he said. It is comforting to know that he touched so many lives in his 26 years. But it is all of you who helped shape him into the man he had become and I thank you all for that.
Jurgens displayed a wisdom that belied his young age and his colleagues, friends and family always felt they were dealing with someone in Jurgens who had shared more of life's experiences.
Tommy was very mature for his age and was always helping other people, said his mother, Linda Propper, who added that he was a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout and at age 11 got a paper route because he wanted to help support his family.
Jurgens was held in the highest regard by the judges he helped protect for the past four years as a court officer, the last two as a senior court officer assigned to the Supreme Court.
He is why all court officers put on that uniform, said Micki Scherer, an administrative judge with the Supreme Court. That's all he ever knew. He was there when someone needed assistance. Tommy gave his all that day. He gave 100 percent.
He was a gentle and generous man. Tommy, I am proud to have known you.
