Auburndale Firefighter Added To 9/11 Memorial Wall

AUBURNDALE, QUEENS — The name of an Auburndale firefighter was added this week to the FDNY World Trade Center Memorial Wall, one year after he died of a brain tumor linked to his work at Ground Zero.

Roger Espinal, who was based at Engine 320 on Francis Lewis Boulevard, spent nearly two decades with the FDNY, first as a paramedic and then as a firefighter.

Espinal was diagnosed with 9/11-related glioblastoma in 2018 and retired from the Fire Department the following year. He died on Sept. 14, 2019, at the age of 42.

Epinal was among 27 names added during a closed ceremony Wednesday to the Fire Department's memorial wall for those who died of illnesses related to their work in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center.

The ceremony marked the first time the wall had been expanded since it was first installed in 2011.

To date, more than 226 FDNY members have died of World Trade Center-related illnesses.

“Our Department made a solemn promise to never forget the bravery and sacrifice of the 343 members who gave their lives on September 11th , and the growing list of heroes who have died due to illnesses related to their courageous work throughout the rescue and recovery effort,” FDNY Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro said.

Espinal's name has also been honored with a street renaming of Stuart Drive in Glen Cove, New York, where he lived with his wife and son.