Cross, Dennis

B.C. Dennis Cross, Bat.57 (D) RUNNING FOR A MEMORY The race seemed more important than ever. For 18 years, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Dennis Cross competed in the Turkey Trot, a 5- kilometer race held in Flushing Meadows, Queens, where firefighters ran for charity. Now he would be absent. His wife, JoAnn, used to operate a fitness studio and induced him to run with her. But once the children arrived, she stopped running. That was 15 years ago. Yet she felt an unshakable need to have a Cross in the Turkey Trot to honor her husband, a battalion chief of Battalion 57 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. So she concluded she would be that Cross. And she would recruit additional firefighters to run, too, in honor of all the firefighters lost in the attack. Chief Cross, 60, known as Captain Fearless, lived with his wife in Islip Terrace, N.Y. His favorite saying was, “Take care of the men and the men will take care of you.” Mrs. Cross was going to take care of his memory. She vowed she would finish this race and then begin an annual memorial run for her husband next April 27, the anniversary of the day they met. For nine weeks, she trained, building up endurance. Race day came. She ran, as did her four children. She finished in 29 minutes. “I thought I was going to do it in 45 minutes,” she said. “I was proud of myself.” At age 60, Dennis Cross had spent nearly two-thirds of his life as a firefighter in New York City. And retirement wasn’t on his calendar anytime soon. “He wanted to be the first to put in 50 years on the job,” said JoAnn Cross, his wife of 37 years. Along with so many of his brethren, Cross’ career was cut short Sept. 11. The battalion chief for Battalion 57, based in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, was killed when the south tower of the World Trade Center collapsed. His body wasn’t recovered until a week later. “The first three days it was more than hell,” said his wife. “When they found him on the seventh day, that was such a relief because we could bring him home. So many of our friends haven’t been able to do that.” As is common in the profession, fighting fires was a family affair. Cross’ father, Charles, was a New York firefighter, as is his only son, Brian. Cross joined the department in 1963 after returning home from a two-year tour in Vietnam, where he served in an Army communications unit, JoAnn Cross said. In the department, Cross was widely admired as a gutsy firefighter and, later, as a respected leader. “He was a quiet guy, but powerful,” JoAnn Cross said. “When he made captain, they called him Captain Fearless.” He was promoted to battalion chief in 1993. A frequent runner who kept himself in excellent shape, Cross was looking forward to competing in an annual 5K race around the Thanksgiving holiday in Flushing Meadows, Queens. Now, JoAnn Cross hopes to turn the race into a fundraiser for a local charity that aids burn victims. Cross is also survived by three daughters and three grandchildren. Dennis A. Cross was the Fire Department of New York’s 57 battalion chief in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He had been on the job since January 1964, after serving in the U.S. Army. On September 11, he was working in the 11th division in Manhattan as an acting deputy chief. He was found on September 18 under the remains of the south tower. Dennis A. Cross was laid to rest on September 22. He Loved to fight fires, run and sail on the Great South Bay. He enjoyed the many simple pleasures in life including chocolate, strawberry ice cream, a hot meal and a good beer. He is survived by his wife JoAnn Doria Cross; children: Lisa (Cross) Wylie, Laura (Cross) Sheppard, New York firefighter Brian Cross, Denise J. Cross; sons and daughter-in-law: Lori (Marfoglio) Cross, Scott Wylie and Marty Sheppard; and grandchildren Austin Wylie, Vincent A. Sheppard, A.J. Sheppard and ‘baby Cross’ due in February 2002. Brother Charles Cross and sister Virginia (Cross) Fredriksen. Laura A. Sheppard, daughter To my uncle, my hero. What can I say about a man who truly loved his family and loved his job almost as much? You will never be forgotten. I was always proud of you, and on September 11 you had the opportunity to show the world how brave and heroic you really were. You always told me that you never let your “boys” go in alone and you didn’t. I am so proud of you and your “brothers” for the strength and courage firefighters possess to run into the buildings as we run out. I think about you every day, and you are truly missed by all. I love you and miss you. Forever in my heart. Barbara E. Cross, niece Dennis A. Cross‚ 60‚ battalion chief‚ FDNY‚ Battalion 57. He joined the FDNY in 1963 after a two-year tour of duty in Vietnam‚ where he served in an Army communications unit. Cross served on a Commissioner’s committee to draft new firefighting regulations and trained upcoming chiefs in a mentoring program. Known as Captain Fearless‚ he followed in the footsteps of his father who was a New York firefighter‚ as is Cross’s son. Cross was devoted to his wife‚ three daughters‚ and three grandchildren. He had a saying that he loved. ‘Take care of men‚ and men will take care of you.’ April 26, 1941–September 11, 2001 BORN IN: Bay Shore, Long Island, New York LIVED IN: Islip Terrace, Long Island, New York New York City Fire Department, Battalion 57, Deputy Chief