Islip, NY – Relatives and neighbors of William Mahoney, Jr., of Ronkonkoma, were recently joined by elected officials and members of the Lakeland Fire Department in a ceremony to dedicate Beaver Lane in his honor. On September 11, 2001, William was serving with Rescue Company 4 of Elmhurst, Queens. His company was among the first to respond to the crisis, and he died when the towers collapsed.
At the time of his death William was just 38, with four children. He began his firefighting career as a junior fireman with the Lakeland Fire Department, and continued to serve in the department as an adult. Early in his career, before joining the New York Fire Department, William served as a New York City policeman. His duties often required him to utilize his scuba training, and he was part of the task force that recovered debris and wreckage from the TWA Flight 800 crash. He was known throughout his neighborhood and the community not only for his work as a firefighter, but also for his involvement in the Connetquot Youth Association.
In addition to Rescue Company 4, William was one of five members of the Lakeland Volunteer Fire Department to lose their life on September 11, 2001
