Tragedy strikes again as the long shadow of September 11, 2001, claims another hero from the ranks of New York’s bravest.
The New York Post reported that retired FDNY Deputy Chief James “Jim” Riches Sr., who served with distinction for three decades and fought tirelessly at Ground Zero, passed away on Thanksgiving Day at age 74 from an illness tied to that fateful day, leaving behind a legacy of courage and advocacy.
Appointed to the FDNY in the late 1970s, Riches dedicated 30 years to protecting New Yorkers with a grit that defined his generation.
On that horrific morning in 2001, Riches rushed to the World Trade Center as terror unfolded, answering the call without hesitation.
Heartbreakingly, his eldest son, Jimmy Jr., a firefighter with Engine 4, perished in the North Tower’s collapse, a personal loss that would fuel Riches’ resolve.
For nearly nine months, Riches sifted through the rubble at Ground Zero, searching for his son and recovering remains of countless others, a duty both sacred and soul-crushing.
In early 2002, Riches finally located his son’s body, a moment of bittersweet relief amid unrelenting grief.
As he once said, “We got to bury him,” a stark reminder that even such closure couldn’t heal the wound of losing a child to terror (James “Jim” Riches Sr.).
But let’s not sugarcoat it—while progressive voices often push narratives of “moving on,” Riches knew better; true healing doesn’t come from platitudes but from honoring the fallen through action.
Retiring in late 2007, Riches never stopped fighting, chairing an organization for 9/11 families and speaking out on issues tied to that dark day.
He testified before city, state, and federal leaders, even crossing paths with former President Barack Obama, ensuring the sacrifices of first responders weren’t swept under the rug of political expediency.
When a certain congresswoman downplayed the attacks as merely “some people did something” in 2019, Riches demanded accountability, refusing to let history be rewritten by careless rhetoric.
“He’s what we call a legend on the job,” said Retired Lieutenant Jim McCaffrey, capturing the reverence Riches inspired among peers.
From Brooklyn, where he lived with his wife, Rita, to the firehouses where three of his four children still serve, Riches’ impact echoes—a family forged in service, undeterred by tragedy.
Visitation and a Mass of Christian Burial are set for this weekend and early next week in Brooklyn, a final salute to a man who gave everything for his city, even as a 9/11-related illness claimed his life on a day meant for gratitude.
Let’s honor Riches by rejecting the cultural amnesia that too often dilutes the memory of 9/11, ensuring his fight for truth and remembrance isn’t forgotten in a haze of political correctness.
