By:Cindy J. Roth
New York City firefighter and Bellmore Little League pioneer Bruce Gary is mourned
If someone needed an extra hand or a favor, Bruce Gary was always there, even if it meant sacrificing personal time.
"If people needed anything, the first thing they did is turned to him," said Jessica Gary of her father, Bruce Gary, 51, a New York City firefighter and Bellmore Little League executive board member missing since the terrorist attacks Sept. 11. "He was always so busy, he never designated time for himself."
Gary, a firefighter for more than 20 years, took pride in and loved his job. Although Gary did not volunteer with the Bellmore Fire Department, his skills were available to them. Friend George Romeo recalls a time when Gary helped extinguish a fire at Shore Road School.
"The fire department was backing out, and he grabbed the fire hose out of their hand and kept going," Romeo said. "He was incredible."
Gary received a commendation from former New York City Mayor David Dinkins for his involvement with the 1993 World Trade Center rescue efforts. Gary's mother, Alice Gary, said her son went up to the 86th floor to lead people out of the building.
"I guess the [firefighters] thought they would do the same thing [on Sept. 11]," Alice said.
When not in firefighter uniform, Gary also worked as a plumber and served as the Bellmore Little League vice president and player agent for 12 years. Gary was instrumental in obtaining the field behind the Reinhard Early Childhood Center for the league.
"He brought leadership to the league by handling most problems," Romeo, Bellmore Little League president, said. "He was a great person, a man's man."
Gary first became involved with the Little League when his son Ricky, now 20, started playing in 1989. Gary stayed involved even after Ricky left the league and before his younger son Tommy, now 15, started to play.
"He was always very sports oriented, so two boys into sports was a dream come true," Jessica said. "He loved being involved with the community. He coached kids in the afternoons and on weekends. He was always working."
More than 1,000 people joined at the Little League field on South Saint Marks Avenue Sept. 16 for a candle-light service in Gary's honor. Paul Buckheit, Bellmore Little League vice president, said Gary was the glue that held the league together. The league has 60 teams and 120 coaches, and Gary always knew everyone's name and coaches' phone numbers.
"He touched thousands of children's lives positively over the years," Buckheit said. "He made things work always for the benefit of all the children."
Gary and Buckheit also volunteered with the Bellmore-Merrick Youth Association as coaches for the Bellmore Braves football team. Buckheit said Gary was one of a kind who was easy going and always got along with everyone.
Gary grew up in Elmont and moved to Bellmore at age 18. After Gary divorced in 1991, he raised his three children himself and dedicated his life to their happiness.
"Everything my father did in life was for his children," Jessica said. "He was the most dedicated father and strongest person. He would do whatever he needed to do to make us happy and make sure we had every thing we needed. All he wanted to see was his kids grow up happy."
Jessica, who is engaged to be married in eight months, said her father looked forward to the wedding more than she. Jessica plans to move ahead with the wedding because that is what her father would have wanted, although there will be a noticeable void.
"He was my best friend," Jessica said. "I could talk to him about anything and everything. No one can fill his shoes."
Alice said that since family members have no official notice of Gary's death, they have not planned a memorial service. Alice said many days have passed sine Sept. 11, perhaps too long for anyone to be alive under the rubble, but she is still praying.
Bruce Gary is survived by two siblings, Chris Gary, who lives in New Jersey, and Donna Struzzieri, of Wantagh. He was predeceased by brother Ricky, who fought in Vietnam and died in a motorcycle accident in 1970. Both surviving siblings are married with children.
