05/30/2026
Today, FMBA Local 47 remembers Firefighter Mark Cassidy on the 20th anniversary of his passing.
Twenty years later, Mark is still remembered by those who served alongside him, by the family he loved, and by the community he was proud to call home.
Mark joined the Ridgewood Fire Department in 1989 as a volunteer, and was appointed a career fireman in 1996. He remained an active member of the department until his passing on May 30, 2006. In the years that followed, his death would be recognized as a 9/11 Line of Duty Death due to the time he spent working at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks.
A devoted father, Mark was immensely proud of his children: Jessica, Mark, Kristin, Leanne, and Karen. His daughter Kristin remembers a trip to her college campus in New York City a few years after 9/11, when Mark spent much of the day pointing out fire hazards, discussing emergency preparedness, and making sure she knew how to stay safe. It was a reflection of who he was—a firefighter not only by profession, but by nature.
Like so many who responded to the World Trade Center, Mark was deeply affected by what he witnessed and experienced. He often spoke about the firefighters who never had the chance to make it home and carried their memory with him long after the smoke had cleared.
Today, we honor Firefighter Cassidy's service, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to protecting others. We remember a firefighter, a father, a brother, and a friend (and posthumously a grandfather!) whose dedication to duty extended far beyond the firehouse doors.
Please join us in remembering Firefighter Mark D. Cassidy and keeping his family in your thoughts today.
Never Forgotten.
May 30, 2006.
