Retired New York City firefighter Virginia Culkin-Spinelli, of St. Augustine, Florida, formerly of Point Lookout, New York, died December 19, 2011, after a year-long battle with cancer related to her response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

Virginia, known to friends and family as “Ginny Ann,” was one of the first female firefighters to work for the FDNY. She joined the department in 1982 and worked for Engine Company 226 in Brooklyn and Engine Company 329 in Queens. She retired in 2002 after a 20-year career.

After her retirement, she and her husband moved to St. Augustine, Florida, a community she had visited for many years.

She is remembered for her toughness and bravery, her big smile, and her love of animals.

She was survived by her loving husband, Vincent “Vinny” Spinelli; daughter and son-in-law, Shannon Culkin and Sean Llewellyn; brother and sister-in-law, William and Helen Magale; and her grandson, Liam Llewellyn.