William Kelly was born June 7, 1953, in East Flatbush, New York, the second of four children. Bill attended St. Jerome’s grade school and Nazareth High School. Bill graduated from Brooklyn College, where he was a member of the swim team. It was during these high school and college years that Bill became forever known amongst his friends as “BK” and where he took up his favorite activity, surfing.

BK worked summers through college as a lifeguard at Reiss Park, spending his spare time trying to catch that perfect wave. He even moved out to California for a time. In his own words, “I was a beach bum,” and life guarded in San Diego. However, it was the lure of the FDNY that drew him back to New York. He began working for FedEx and took the fire department test, anxiously awaiting his call.

BK joined the FDNY in 1989. His first house, Engine 276/Ladder 156, was in Brooklyn. In 2004, he was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to Ladder 116 in Long Island City. Bill totally immersed himself in the FDNY culture. He joined the firehouse softball team, basketball team, hockey team, ran in FDNY Turkey Trots, and skied in every FDNY ski race he could make. He truly embraced the term “Brotherhood” and was so proud to be a member of the FDNY.

BK was also a patient, loving father to three wonderful children, Billy, Bridget, and Colin, and a devoted husband. He went to every child’s first grade class, letting them try on his helmet and teaching “Stop, Drop, and Roll.” He coached swim teams, baseball, and hockey teams. Even with sports that a Brooklyn boy didn’t know, like lacrosse, he jumped in to help the coaches while learning the rules. He never missed a school concert or a play, filming like a proud dad. He was a huge Grateful Dead fan, attending his last concert in 2016. He was also a big Rangers and Mets fan.

Each year, Bill took the family skiing in Vermont. The kids were all at different skiing levels, but he always made time to give everyone their moment to show off their new skills. BK had the unique ability to be fun, firm, and fair. Even as he was getting sicker, BK was determined to take the family on a dream ski trip to Utah in 2016. Even though he was no longer able to ski with the kids, he wanted them to experience skiing out west like he had.

BK worked at the Ground Zero rescue and recovery efforts in 2001, in the immediate aftermath and in the months after. He developed 9/11-related cancer and had to retire from the FDNY in 2012. He died on June 10, 2017, surrounded by family. He is greatly missed by his family and all who knew and loved him.