On September 11‚2001 a terrorist attack collapsed the twin towers of the World Trade Center‚ trapping and leaving for dead‚ 343 of New York’s bravest. This incident has robbed from the Fire Department some of its brightest and most experienced members. You could even call these men legends. One such legend among that group was Battalion Chief Larry Stack.
Prior to joining the New York City Fire Department‚ Larry Stack spent six years in the United States Navy‚ including his last year which was during the Vietnam War. Following his honorable discharge on February 19‚1966‚ he had a brief stint with the NYPD.
Larry Stack comes from a family of firefighters. His father was a firefighter for 38 years. His brother‚ Dennis‚ a retired Captain‚ spent more than 25 years on the job. His son‚ Michael‚ was appointed to the FDNY in 1994. Also his brother-in-law‚ Ray – a retired Lieutenant – spent more than 25 years on the job as well.
Chief Stack began his FDNY career on October 19‚ 1968. He was assigned to Ladder 107 in East New York‚ Brooklyn. On February 21‚ 1970 Larry Stack was assigned to Ladder 175‚ a new company in Brooklyn – also in East New York. It was in this firehouse on New Jersey Avenue where Chief Stack would spend the next 11 years in one of the busiest ladder companies in Brooklyn.
On April 5‚ 1981 he was promoted to Lieutenant and covered in Manhattan for just over a year until he was assigned to Ladder 35 on June 26‚ 1982. Ladder 35 is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He supervised‚ trained‚ and earned the respect of the members in this firehouse instantly. It’s bittersweet to mention this company because some of the members Larry Stack had trained almost 20 years ago are missing also among the rubble of the World Trade Center. Ladder 35 and Engine 40 suffered heavy losses on September 11.
On April 5‚ 1984 he was promoted to Captain. He covered in Manhattan until January 6‚ 1987‚ when he was assigned to 8 Engine on 51st Street. 8 Engine is another company with heavy losses suffered on September11.
On St. Patrick’s Day in 1990‚ Larry Stack was promoted to Battalion Chief and assigned to Battalion 54 in Queens just one month later. He also worked in Battalion 50 (also in Queens) up until 1994.
Chief Stack‚ now with 25 years combined as a firefighter and fire officer‚ knew every street and every type of building in the five boroughs. It was with this knowledge Chief Stack put forth his greatest challenge. In 1994‚ he was detailed to the Safety Operating Battalion. The Safety Battalion responds citywide to 2nd alarm or greater fires‚ apparatus accidents‚ and worst of all – line-of-duty deaths. The line-of-duty death entailed months and months of interviews and reports. When the safety battalion arrives at a 2nd alarm or greater fire‚ the safety chief is the on-scene safety officer. This chief would make sure a building involved in a fire would be safe for the units to operate in. Chief Stack‚ with his many years of expertise in the fire field‚ saved many firefighters’ lives during his almost 8-year tenure in the Safety Battalion. Chief Stack might have seen something or heard something at a fire that units operating inside or on a roof might not be aware of. He was their second set of eyes. He was a firefighters’ sixth sense He had their backs! Therefore‚ it was no surprise when Chief Stack helped free two Lieutenants entangled and trapped in the rubble after the first collapse of the World Trade Center. Chief Stack‚ along with the two Lieutenants‚ found their way out of the collapsed South Tower only to come across an injured civilian with a severed Achilles tendon who could not walk and asked for help. Chief Stack‚ along with Chief Ray Downey‚ stayed with this civilian while directing the two Lieutenants to safety. Unfortunately‚ the North Tower collapsed.
But most important to Chief Stack was his family. His wife of 34 years‚ Teri‚ and their two sons‚ Michael and Brian. Michael – as mentioned before‚ a third-generation firefighter – assigned to Ladder 165 in St. Albans‚ Queens‚ and Brian -also a NYC firefighter – assigned to Ladder 123 in Crown Heights‚ Brooklyn.
Chief Stack loved spending tie with Teri‚ Brian‚ and Michael and his wife‚ Kathleen and their first child (and Larry and Teri’s first grandchild) Colleen. A great cook‚ the Chief loved it when his brother-in-law Ray and the Chief’s three brothers and their wives would visit. Dennis and Barbara‚ Thomas and Dot‚ and Kevin and Vicky would come over with their kids‚ with whom Chief Stack was close.
What Chief Stack loved the most was his wife of 34 years‚ especially spending vacation time in their Florida condo.
Theresa Stack
I participated in the NFFF 911 Stairclimb for the first time in Indianapolis last month. I was in NYC in October of 2001 going to funerals and memorials and was treated so well by the FDNY people that I really had wanted to do the stair climb for a long time. I checked in and I was asked if I had a particular person in mind, I said no just hand me a tag. They did and I drew Lawrence Stack of the Safety Battalion. It was an honor to climb in his name and fortunately I made the climb without passing out. I hope the Stack family is well and have recovered as much as possible.
– Will WyattWill
My Cousin being a PANYNJ Engineer TBT never made it out of the North Tower ( WTC 1 )…I worked 7 mnths on the Pile/in the Pit, his last burial place being North Tower confirmed at 1029am ( 9/11/01),,,,,Edward T. Keane..I’ve worked for numerous 9/11 Family Org.’s.for Proper Burial wth no avail and my work is not done…GOD Bless to All as We continue to work on finding Our Loved Ones Remained…billycigars
– will MaherI just participated the memorial stair climb here in Colorado at Red Rocks with my boyfriend who lost his uncle in 9/11. At sign in they asked if we had anyone particular and he chose he uncle and I drew randomly. I too drew Lawrence and wore his picture proudly while I climbed the 110 stories. I finished the climb and it was an honor to have done it with Lawrence. He got me through it as well as everyone else there and those who were lost. I hope the Stack family is doing well and I wanted to reach out to them today. I want to say thank you, for Lawrence is a hero. We are here for you all and we will never forget Lawrence or any of the other 343 from that day 15 years ago.
– LeAnne KoenigI am trying to locate one of the Stack brothers. He was a Correction Officer assigned to C73 during 9/11. If possible can you forward my email address to him. I always kept him and his family in my prayers. I would like to speak to him, if he is up to it.
– LIZZETTE DELVALLEProud to say I climbed all the stairs in honor of Lawrence today. My firm, Struck Love Bojanowski & Acedo was the largest team in attendance at this morning’s 9/11 challenge. I am grateful for your service and devotion. May you rest in peace Mr. Stack.
– TAMELA GATIONI met Thomas Stack today at the shooting range in Uniondale and he told me about his great brother, Larry. We had something in common, as my brother in law was BC Jack Fanning of Hazmat who also perished on that bad day. We both agreed that these two fine men knew each other and probably coordinated their duties at times. May God bless these heroes, and may they never be forgotten. Tom McD
– Thomas McDermottRan for you this morning Chief Stack. You are a true hero and I will not forget the legacy you left behind. Prayers to you and your family.
– Andrew NovakThank you for your service Lawrence T. Stack, you will never be forgotten. I remember where I was during 911…here in Vermont and seemingly not effected by the tragedies. 19 years later it’s amazing all the stories that have gone unheard by many. I pray that all the families directly effected have recovered what they can, and are able to move forward in life. God Bless. Kimberly
– Kimberly PerkinsLawrence Stack and his family has my sincere condolences. I learned of him from the wall of names lost at the WTC on 9/11 displayed at the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA. I may be Chief Lawrence’s distant relative as my grandfather emigrated from Ireland to Pittsburgh, PA in 1906. I work a the Materials Manager for MSA Safety in PA and we manufacture SCBA equipment for firefighters. May God Bless Chief Lawrence Stack and his family forever.
– Charles R StackLarry was with my father James D. Cleere on that sad day Larry and Raymond M. Downey spotted my dad inside the the Trade Center Marriott sitting on the staircase with an injured knee he got from evacuating the 15th floor where he was staying overnight dad was to attend a business meeting on the 98th floor of Tower 1. Unfortunately all three were so very close to making it out of the Marriott then south tower collapsed.
– Scott CleereThe Stack family is one of the most remarkable families I’ve been lucky enough to know. They exemplify what it means to be a family! They are a family built on principles of hard work and simply put being good people. We think about their sacrifice every year during the 9/11 memorials. 20 years ago the nation vowed to Never Forget… and to this day we have never forgotten The Stacks!
– Mike DvorznakHello
I am a resident of Melbourne Australia, and I had the privilege of hearing the name of Chief Stack read out by his Granddaughter? during the broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation News 24. Please accept my sincere Condolences to his family and colleagues for your Loss, commemorated on this day.
As you know, Australia and the United States share a great legacy in the ANZUS Treaty alliance and the Rule of Law.
God Bless America and God Bless Australia.
John David Stack
– John StackI was honored to participate in my 3rd stair climb in Columbus OH, the climb today on 20th anniversary of September 11. I continue to carry a photo and memory of our hero Chief Stack with me. He will never be forgotten. Thank you Chief Stack for serving and protecting us. I pray that wonderful memories of you bring comfort to your family and friends. God Bless.
– Jen BaranYesterday I had the honor of carrying the memory of B.C. Stack with me in Biloxi T2T 3 mile walk and 110 flights of stairs in full gear. It was a humbling honor.
– Bobby Peoples