The Plainview Fire Department was saddened to announce the passing of life member and ex-captain Danny Levy, who died from a 9-11 contracted illness on Tuesday, Jan. 8. After the 9/11 attacks, Levy volunteered many days at Ground Zero with other heroic men and women, and sometime after, and became ill as a result of his time spent in lower Manhattan.
Levy initially joined the fire department in August 1999 as a fire medic and shortly switched from a medic to begin his training as a firefighter. He was eager to learn, and his natural leadership skills, honed in the Israeli military, put him on the path towards becoming an officer.
Ex-Captain Levy first became a lieutenant of Engine Company 1 (stationed out of headquarters on Old Country Road) in 2002 and rose through the ranks until becoming Captain in 2004. Despite his illness, according to friends Levy could often be found in the firehouse with a big smile, catching up on recent events and was always seen with his custom decorated cane—designed with a fire motif.
Levy answered his last alarm on Monday, Jan. 7. In his honor, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano ordered flags on county government buildings to be flown at half-staff for the week following his death.
“I join our citizens in mourning the loss of ex-captain and life member Danny Levy and send my deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and fellow brothers and sisters of the fire service,” said Mangano.
Levy will be sorely missed by his family within the Plainview Fire Department. He is survived by his wife, Rachel, and two daughters. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Larger than Life Foundation: 5415 35th Street, Long Island City, NY 11101, or online at www.largerthanlifeusa.org.
