By Brian Zanzonico
Less than 48 hours later, he was gone.
Kiefer, born and raised in Franklin Square, was killed along with 342 fellow New York firefighters in the terror attack on the World Trade Center. He was 25.
Kiefer was also a Long Beach lifeguard, and jogged on the 2.2-mile boardwalk to loosen up before every shift. On June 10, Kiefer's family will host the fifth annual FDNY FF Michael Kiefer Walk/Run on the Long Beach boardwalk, a fund-raiser to benefit the FDNY Firefighter Michael Kiefer Fund care of the New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation.
"We recreate his run and it's a nice way to get everybody together to remember him," said Kiefer's father, Bud, a longtime member of the Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department.
During his grade school days at St. Catherine of Sienna in Franklin Square, Kiefer would set up fake fire scenes outside their home and cast his sisters, Lauren and Kerri, in the roles of probationary firefighters. His love of firefighting was forged as a child, when Bud would take him to the Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department on weekends to keep him occupied.
When Kiefer was old enough, he bought a police scanner and trekked to fire calls on his bike. More than once he was escorted home by police officers who spotted him wandering around fires in tough neighborhoods. In his teens he joined junior firefighter programs in several local neighborhoods, and hoped to one day turn his passion into career.
After graduating from St. Mary's High School in Manhasset in 1994, Kiefer joined the fire cadet program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. The experience culminated with a job with the New York City Fire Department as a paramedic. A year and a half later, he took the exam to become a firefighter. In December 2000, he became a probationary fireman in Engine Co. 280/Ladder Co. 132 firehouse in Crown Heights. He was killed less than a year later.
Since Kiefer's death, his family has worked to keep his memory alive, holding two fund-raisers a year for the burn center foundation. For the Kiefers, the events, particularly the walk/run, bring them closer to Michael.
"Emotionally, it's crazy in a sense that I want it perfect for my brother," Kerri said. "Everyone comes out to remember him, people on the beach come over, and I like to tell them about him. I want them to say to themselves, 'see how many people remember him.'"
The walk/run begins at 11 a.m. at a bench between Lincoln and Monroe boulevards dedicated to Kiefer. To date, the Kiefers have raised $50,000 for the FDNY Firefighter Michael Kiefer Fund through fund-raisers. More than $280,000 has been given by donors.
For information on how to contribute, call Kerri Kiefer at (516) 805-1473 or visit the Web site www.nyffburncenter.com/incs/kieferfund.htm.
Comments about this story? FSeditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 240.
