When it came to the health and well-being of the heroes of 9/11 Firefighter Ray Pfeifer refused to take “no” for an answer. As his body became weaker from cancer Ray became stronger in his determination to make sure Congress followed through on its promise to “never forget.” Ray was a familiar site in the Nation’s Capital, tracking down members of Congress and helping to rally the commitment needed to reauthorize the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. It was a difficult and often frustrating battle. It took many trips to Washington and long hours of waiting. It required enormous patience from someone who understood first-hand that the clock was ticking for him and many others who answered the call on September 11, 2001.
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation was extremely saddened to learn of Ray Pfeifer’s passing on Sunday. Ray was a friend of the Foundation and an inspiration. He was a leader and role model whose compassion for others was extraordinary. Ray Pfeifer will be deeply missed.
