Kevin M. “Buck” Delano devoted his entire life to the fire service. Kevin became a junior firefighter while in high school. Then he joined the U.S. Coast Guard as a federal firefighter. He completed his enlistment and then continued on as a civilian firefighter while waiting to be called for the New York City Fire Department. His first assignment was Ladder 146 in Brooklyn and then to Ladder 142 in Queens. In both places, he earned the respect of his fellow firefighters, many of whom referred to him as a “fireman’s fireman.” Kevin was also extremely active in our community. He was a member of the West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department for over 30 years, including 12 years as chief.

In 1974, he met his future wife, Roseann. They married in 1980, and in 1984 they welcomed their son, Kevin Jr. Kevin balanced the three loves of his life—firefighting, his wife, and his son—while always having time to help family, friends, and community. Kevin was, without a doubt, the rock of the family, and our lives are forever changed without him. Kevin was among the first arriving firefighters at the World Trade Center on 9/11. The toxic chemicals he inhaled from working extensively at the site took his life on July 30, 2008, from leukemia.

Kevin is survived by his wife, Roseann; his son, Kevin Jr., and daughter-in-law, Meghan; his granddaughter, Shealynn; seven sisters; two brothers; 35+ nieces and nephews; and hundreds of brothers and sisters in the fire service.