Downey, Raymond

B.C. Raymond Downey, Soc. Age: 63 Wife: Rosalie. Children: Kathy‚ Raymond‚ Charles‚ Marie and Joseph. Nine grandchildren. Raymond M. Downey was born in Sunnyside‚ Queens‚ and for over 40 years‚ he and his wife Rosalie have lived in Deer Park‚ raising their family of five children. His colleagues affectionately referred to Chief Downey‚ chief in charge of the Special Operations Command‚ as God and Master of Disaster. One of FDNY’s most decorated firefighters and a bona fide department icon‚ his accomplishments are legendary and monumental. Ray was a panel member of the presidential committee on terrorism known as the Gilmore Commission‚ which has been assessing domestic response capabilities for terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction. As a founding member of the FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Team network‚ he responded to the Walton Floods and the 2000 ice storm in upstate New York; Hurricanes Hugo‚ Andrew‚ Fran‚ Marilyn‚ Opal and Georges; and the bombing at the Atlanta Olympics. He was the FEMA Operations Chief at the Oklahoma City bombing‚ and several of the major hurricanes. Ray authored the book The Rescue Company and he created a series of videos on collapse operations. He was the recipient of the Crystal Apple Award issued by Mayor Rudy Giuliani on July 23‚ 2001. After his death‚ he received the Department of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award‚ the Congressional Fire Services Institute Mason Langford Award‚ and the Medal of Courage Award upon induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. In his home community‚ a local road and the post office were renamed in his honor. His family was the center of his life‚ especially his wife Rosalie.