Thousands Remember Pittsburgh's Fallen Firefighters

Slide Show:Images from the Pittsburgh Funeral

PITTSBURGH -- Firefighters from as far away as Canada and Hawaii assembled Thursday in Oakland to pay tribute to Pittsburgh's fallen heroes.

A procession of hundreds of ladder trucks, command cars and ambulances left Heinz Field around 10 a.m. for a noon funeral Mass at St. Paul Cathedral for Battalion Chief Charles Brace and Firefighter Richard Stefanakis. The two men died Saturday in the Hill District when the bell tower of Ebenezer Baptist Church collapsed while they were fighting a fire.

Daniel Brace, 22, talked about being given a used fire helmet by his father and proudly wearing it to kindergarten.

"I can't think of a more noble way to pass, which is fitting because you are the most noble man I knew," Brace said. "I love you, Daddy. Goodbye for now."

At least four bagpipe-and-drum units took part in the procession to and from the church, which drew several dozen civilian spectators in addition to the overflow crowd of firefighters and relatives.

After the Mass, an honor guard fired a 21-gun salute and two emergency helicopters did a flyover as the funeral processions left for separate private burials.

About 2,000 people crowded into the cathedral for Mass, which was led by Bishop Donald Wuerl. Several hundred more listened on loud speakers outside.

Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll attended, as did Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and Mayor Tom Murphy, who struggled with his composure while delivering one of the eulogies.

"When the Steelers win a playoff, we celebrate as a family. When there's a tragedy, we mourn as a family," Murphy said. "Know today that the city of Pittsburgh mourns with you today as a family."

Several speakers and a group of New York City firefighters seized on the theme in a biblical passage quoted during the Mass: "Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." New York firefighters signed a copy of an artist's rendering of an angel with that verse that was given to the families.

Wuerl said Brace and Stefanakis were role models in a society where respect for life is waning and heroes are few.

"But the lives and deaths of Charles and Richard hold up for us another vision of life," Wuerl said. "There's no such thing as a safe fire, but someone has to go (fight them) ... Charles and Rich are cut from that same cloth. They were called, and they went."

"This ranks as one of the saddest days of my life," said city Fire Chief Peter Micheli, his voice breaking.

"In today's society, we can't turn on the news without hearing of violence and destruction. We try hard to find role models - today we have role models," Micheli said.

Brace, 55, will be buried at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Peters. He is survived by his wife, Jamie, and two sons, Charles and Daniel.

Stefanakis, 51, will be buried at Calvary Cemetery in Hazelwood. He is survived by his wife, Stephanie, and two children, Crystal and Chad.

Both men served in the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau for more than 30 years.

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