Longtime Astoria, Queens, resident Nicholas J. “Nick” DeMasi passed away from 9/11-related cancer on October 21, 2015.

A firefighter for the New York City Fire Department, he was stationed at Engine Company 261 in Long Island City for many years. He responded to the World Trade Center attack with Engine 261 and spent many months working at Ground Zero. When Engine Company 261 closed, he went to Engine Company 259, also in Long Island City.

He retired in 2004.