As I understand it, this Sunday N.Y. Times, (January 4th, '15), will start a series of "Human Interest Stories" about the Fire Buffs of the FDNY. I am told the first story in this series will be our very own site member "guitarman314", nicknamed "G-man", Tom E., from Staten Island.
From what I know about Tom is that he grew up in the South Bronx near 60/17. He got a job with the Post Office where he eventually became a supervisor in that neighborhood. He has been a buff of the FDNY for a very long time and those of us who have seen the skill he has in building model fire trucks, is an amazing job to say the least. As I understand it, he is also a member of the Fire Bell Club of New York and well respected by the members of the FDNY.
Today, G-man is retired from the Postal Service. His basement has a display of some of the model fire trucks he has built, with some pieces so small they are hard to see and tweezers are needed to work with them. He also is gifted in that as his screen name says, he plays the guitar for several of the singing groups of the Doo Wop era. Many who still perform today.
On a side note, those of us who remember the days of the "44 caliber killer", who called himself "The Son of Sam" may remember that he worked as a postal clerk in Yonkers. G-man worked with him at that time.
Thanks Tom and I think a lot of us will be looking forward to reading your story. I hope for those who won't be able to get that newspaper, a copy of your story will be printed here. How about it guys.