By:Nicole Falco
Valley Stream hero mourned and celebrated
Battalion Chief Orio Joseph Palmer was right where he wanted to be on Sept. 11, helping to save thousands of lives. He died doing what he loved.
"His passion for the lives of others was greater than the passion of his love for himself," Father Thomas Harold said of Palmer at his memorial service.
Had he been in Holy Name of Mary Church for any other reason, Palmer would probably have been seated in one of the back pews, but on Saturday Palmer's life was celebrated front row, center.
The 45-year-old Battalion Chief, who lived in Valley Stream, was both mourned and celebrated by his wife, Deborah, and their three children, Dana, 13, Keith, 11, and Alyssa, 9, as well as family, friends and hundreds of firefighters.
He had been a member of Battalion 7/Engine 3/Ladder 12 in Manhattan. The peanut-butter loving Yankee fan was only two names on the list away from being promoted to Deputy Chief when tragedy struck.
Palmer began his career with Ladder 27 and was later promoted to lieutenant at Brooklyn's Engine 118/Ladder 205 and was then stationed in Corona, Queens, Engine 289/Ladder 138 where he served as captain. Palmer was a "shining star" in the New York City Fire Department and never hesitated to share his knowledge. He often contributed to the fire department's magazine. At the time of his death, Palmer had been involved in projects to fix the fire detection equipment in Manhattan's Pennsylvania Station and emergency phone systems throughout the city's subway system. Palmer was dedicated to the welfare and safety of others.
"There is not a man who ever worked with Orio who can say he did not teach them something...he was a sponge for knowledge," said Captain Michael Moran, who worked with Palmer at Engine 289/Ladder 138.
Palmer's last name was never needed because his first name, Orio, like the man himself, was an original. Palmer was a man who, last year, spent weeks working on a costume for a party he and his wife were to attend. He unveiled his costume, a pink toga complete with homemade wooden sandals, to his wife and declared he was going as the "boy toy from Troy."
Palmer earned a lot of laughs at that party especially after his sandal split sending him head long into the crowd. Palmer was always making others smile, but could also laugh at himself. Perhaps, greater than his sense of humor was his character.
"Those who knew Orio since he was a child remember his strong sense of right and wrong," his brother, Stephen, said during his eulogy.
Stephen cited his brother's "benevolent sense of civic duty," his role as a model for others, the "goodness" that filled his heart and the "passion" he brought to everything he did.
Lt. James McCaffrey called Palmer an inspiration to everyone, and spoke of Palmer's passion and enthusiasm for his job as being "contagious." According to McCaffrey, Palmer's passion for his family outweighed everything else in his life.
"Anything he did in one form or another he did for them. They were his world," McCaffrey said. Palmer made sure he was present at Dana's dance recitals, Keith's baseball games and Alyssa's school plays.
When he wasn't working or spending time with his family, Palmer could be found fishing in the pond in Valley Stream or working out. Palmer earned four fitness awards from the department.
When Palmer wasn't spending time with his family, saving lives, teaching others or fishing, he could often be found helping others. Palmer could often be seen with a screwdriver in hand ready to fix something, according to Stephen. Battalion Chief Robert Holzmaier, who worked with Palmer at Engine 289/Ladder 138 eight years ago, credited Palmer with helping him to become a battalion chief.
"I wonder when he rested...he must have been the energizer bunny," Holzmaier said.
At work, Palmer always took the hardest job according to Battalion Chief Stephen Raynis, who worked with Palmer in Brooklyn's Engine 205/Ladder 118.
Firefighter after firefighter praised Palmer. Then his daughter, Dana, spoke and brought tears to eyes of the hundreds of mourners packed in the church.
She read a letter she wrote to her father following the Sept. 11 attacks. In it she wrote of how proud she was of her dad, how she will make him proud, how much of a hero he is to her. She wrote about the last time she saw him.
She also wrote, "I like to think God took you right away."
The 13-year-old said she now fully understands the expression, "Only the good die young."
[An address for donations to aid the Palmer family will appear in one of the next Valley Stream Herald issues.]
