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National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

Roll of Honor

Lieutenant
Age: 47
Year of Death: 2001

Kevin C. Dowdell

Kevin was a devoted husband and father. Although he worked two jobs‚ he managed to spend a lot of time with his family and enjoy life. He took great pride in his job and was not considering retiring even though he had 20 years and was eligible. He always said he was a happy lieutenant because he was in Rescue 4.

He loved spending his time at the beach surfing with his sons‚ Patrick and James. He also enjoyed listening as Patrick played the bagpipes and James the snare drum. He especially enjoyed going out to dinner in Manhattan with his wife Rose Ellen at the end of a busy work week.

Kevin received many citations during his time on the Fire department. He received a medal for his rescue of a woman from a Queens diner after it had exploded and collapsed. He also went to Oklahoma City as a member of FEMA to help in the recovery of victims after the Murrah Federal Building was bombed.

Kevin worked hard both as a firefighter and a construction worker. He did this to be sure he could provide a comfortable life for his family and a quality education for his sons. Patrick attends the United States Military Academy at West Point. James attends Iona College in New Rochelle. He was a great role model for his sons and others who. witnessed his bravery‚ integrity‚ and selflessness.

– Rose Ellen Dowdell

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Memorial Wall

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  1. Thank You Kevin for your service, we will never forget the sacrifice you and your fellow first responders made that day.!!!!!

    – Joseph Marchitto
  2. I am walking the 2018 Clayton stair climb in your honor. God bless you and your family.

    – ALEX CIMA
  3. I had the honor of climbing at the Columbus Climb to Remember 911 in your memory today. Thank you for your service to NYC & this country!

    – MegClark
  4. On Saturday September 7th, 2019… I participated in the 9/11 Fallen Hero Tribute 10K in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Kevin Dowdell was one of the Fallen Hero’s I got to run for. What a humbling experience. I am honored that I had the chance to do this for him.

    – Angie Mago
  5. I have the privilege of climbing the 2021 Phoenix Tower Challenge in your honor. Thank you for your service. Never forgotten.

    – Elizabeth Wixon
  6. Just saw the Dowdell family on GMA3. What a beautiful tribute to your husband and father Kevin.
    May God Bless you always

    – RoseMaria DiLullo-Norman
  7. Gloria Dowdell came running in the beauty school that morning awaiting her hair appt. she ran in, sat down and glued to the tv hoping to hear something about Kevin. She often told me how much she loved her sons and was so proud of her two grandsons. She shared how she lost one son and cannot bare losing another. She adored Kevin and was so proud of you u all.

    – Michelle Montoya
  8. I went with a friend to NYC in 1994 to take pictures of FDNY rigs and meet folks. We went to the Queens firehouse of R4/E292, and the Lt there asked where we were from. We told him Littleton CO, and he told us his mom and sister lived there. Some years after 9/11, me met his mom and sister at our parish after Mass. She gave me Kevin’s mass card. I will never forget him or all of them.

    – Mark Nelson
  9. Thank you Kevin for your service.
    I walked the September 11 stair climb in Kevin’s memory on Saturday September 9,2023 at the annual Cintas Fort Myers Florida office.
    #neverforget

    – Anthony Costa