'Real Life Superhero': LI Chief Billy Moon Honored In Funeral Services

BAY SHORE, NY — First responders and firefighters turned out in droves Thursday, alongside New York City Mayor Eric Adams, FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, family and friends to pay their respects to FDNY member William "Billy" Moon.

Funeral services took place at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Bay Shore around noon, beginning with a motorcade and Suffolk and Nassau police officers lined up on Main Street.

Moon, 47, of Islip, was preparing for a drill inside his firehouse – Rescue Company 2 – located at 1815 Sterling Place in Brooklyn, on Dec. 12 when he fell about 20 feet and suffered a serious head injury, officials said.

Mayor Adams later announced that he would not survive his injuries.

Moon was appointed to the FDNY on May 5, 2002. He began his career in Ladder Company 133 in Queens, where he worked for 20 years before being detailed to Rescue Company 2, in Brooklyn earlier this year, FDNY said.

In addition to serving the FDNY, Firefighter Moon also served as a member of the Islip Volunteer Fire Department on Long Island, including serving as their Chief of Department in 2017.

The procession was followed by fire trucks from Rescue Company 2, Fire Ladder Company 133 in Jamaica, and Islip Fire Department, all with painted letters reading "In Memory of Billy Moon" on their windshields.

Dozens of bagpipe players and drummers donned in kilts also marched alongside the fire trucks.

One Rescue Company 2 fire truck, which carried Moon's coffin, hung black and purple bands that they had used to honor him last week in Brooklyn. As firefighters brought the coffin into the church, bagpipe players performed the hymn "Amazing Grace."

Adams spoke at the services and said Moon was not only a hero in life as a firefighter, but in life with his family.

"We are going to miss firefighter Moon," said Adams. "He was not only a hero in life, he understood what it meant to be a firefighter — courage, bravery and sacrifice."

FDNY Commissioner Kavanagh added to Adams' statement, saying that in his passing, Moon's organs saved the lives of five individuals, including a 9/11 first responder and a retired firefighter.

She also said that Moon was a man who "understood that community can be greater than the sum of its parts," and could impact others in a million different ways.

"He was not a hero because he was superhuman," said Kavanagh. "He was a hero because he was a man who chose to go dedicate himself more fully to those around him every single day."

Not a single seat was empty in the pews of the packed church. On the altar, still decorated in pine and poinsettias for Christmas, stood two large pictures of Moon. On the right-hand side, his three helmets of each department he worked with, were displayed on a wooden table.

Lieutenant James Keane, who had worked with Moon, said he spent his life trying to get into Rescue Company 2.

"He believed in the process, because he knew what it meant to be selected," said Keane. "His smile, which was already big, got a little bit bigger and a lot better. It was confirmation for what we all already knew. Billy was the best."

Keane also said that the love between Moon and his wife, Kristina, was "evident" and that he would keep a picture of her and their children in his locker.

He joked that Moon was Kristina's "first child" as well as husband, because of his infectious sense of humor, and love for debating with others.

Moon was also a dedicated father to Brianne and Colin, ages 10 and 8, Keane said, and would brag to others about their accomplishments. Already taking after their father in service, Keane said Brianne was involved in community projects, and Colin planned on donating his long, blonde hair to kids with cancer.

Captain William Flaherty of Rescue Company 2 spoke about how he selected Moon for his dedication to helping others.

"You guys are telling me that Rescue 2 is Billy's dream. I'll say that Billy Moon was our dream," said Flaherty. "He was a dream to have on our rig, even for the short time, and he made us all better."

Colin, Moon's son, dressed in a formal firefighter uniform, told the congregation that he wanted to be just like his dad when he grows up.

"He described himself as being cool, being awesome and the smartest in the world. My sister says he's not. I say he is," said Colin. "He said his favorite job is a fireman. But really, it's being a dad."

Kristina, Moon's wife, spoke on behalf of their daughter, Brianne.

"My dad was there every second he could, but I'll tell you wherever he was, he knew someone," she said.

Kristina also said that she and Moon, her "best friend," met in 2001 through friends, and would give each other advice about life and love. As Islip chief, Moon would keep toys in his desk to keep his kids entertained. He would insist on having family game nights, and DJed lots of family dance parties at the beginning of the pandemic.

"If you were to peel back the layers of Billy, from fireman to son, just the simple fact that Brianne and Colin want to tell you about him, whether they made it to this podium or not, speaks volumes to this type of father he was," said Kristina.

If he had never been selected for Rescue Company 2, his dream job, Kristina said he still would have been happy, because he could serve his community.

Keane closed his statement with a quote from the late Marvel creator, Stan Lee, that a hero was someone who was concerned about other people's well-being and will go out of their way to help them, even if there's no chance of reward.

"Without a doubt, Brianne and Colin, your dad is a real life superhero. All of his very best qualities live within you," said Keane, his voice breaking up through tears. "People miss your dad. But we will never forget him. And we will tell his story."