About Us
This Foundation was established by the Family and Friends of
Michael Francis Joseph Lynch, FDNY Badge # 2315. It is a charitable
foundation dedicated to providing educational opportunities to the
children of firefighters, both fallen and active, as well as children
of other victims of the September 11th attacks.
Michael Lynch, a Son, Brother, Uncle, Fiancée,
Relative and Friend, sacrificed his life along with 342 other firefighters at the World Trade
Center on September 11, 2001. This foundation was created to honor Michael's sacrifice and memory.
The generosity of the people who loved Michael, and of many who never knew him, has enabled us to build
a hope-filled vision for the future by assisting families that were impacted by these events. Though his career was
ended too soon, we take comfort in knowing that Michael loved his work. We hope this scholarship program will allow these
students to pursue their dreams.
Michael was permanently assigned to Ladder 32, Engine 62, also
known as the "Gun Hill Gang" in The Bronx, New York. On
September 11th, Michael was on rotation to Engine 40, Ladder 35 on the
Upper Westside of Manhattan. He had been assigned to that company for
a few months when these events occurred.
On September 11th, the second day into a 24 hour tour, Michael,
along with fellow firefighters from Engine 40/Ladder 35, responded
to the calls for help at the World Trade Center. Twelve out of thirteen
firefighters from E40/L35 were lost that day.
Michael was last seen entering WTC
Building 4 at the corner of Church and Liberty Streets with other
firefighters from Engine 40. This event was captured by a news cameraman and
provided us with information that later became valuable in the
recovery process. We learned that his company was headed to the
lobby of Tower 2. We soon realized that Michael was located in the South Tower when it fell.
This website originally began as an effort to find Michael. Like so
many other families, we were hopeful that Michael might have been
spared, either by finding a safe place in a void under the rubble or
being sent to a hospital somewhere. We provided identifying
information about Michael in the hope that someone would
recognize him. A guest book was started and soon we began receiving messages of support from family,
friends, and strangers all over the world ( See Guestbook).
Our hopes for a rescue diminished and became instead the painful realization that we must now hope for recovery.
The hours, days, weeks and months that followed were agonizing for our family and friends. Throughout this ordeal, firefighters from Companies L32/L62, E40/L35, and
others offered their constant support. Active firefighters Tommy
Warkenthien, Mike Morrissey, Mike Kotula, and Ray Pfeiffer, along
with Captains Don Ubell, Bill Chilson, Jim Gormley and retired
firefighters Lee Ielpi and Bill Butler kept us informed about the
recovery effort.
We are forever indebted to these brave men who found it in their
hearts to help us while enduring unimaginable pain of their own.
On December 7, 2001, just a few days prior to what would have been
Michael's 31st birthday, our family held a 
Memorial Mass to pay tribute
to Michael and to comfort us as we waited. It was not an easy decision for our family to have a memorial without recovery
but we felt it was important to provide an opportunity for all who loved Michael to express grief, condolences,
respect, and admiration for his courage.
Still, family and friends continued to keep a vigil and wait
for news of Michaels' recovery. Michael's family and friends continued
to go to Ground Zero, watching over, and participating in, the
recovery effort.
On March 21st, 2002, we received news that Michael had been found.
Michael's father, Jack, and brother-in-law, Tom Baker, had spent
the day working on the recovery effort. On the drive home, Jack
received a phone call from retired firefighter, Lee Ielpi, who had
already found his son and with whom Jack  worked
almost daily at Ground Zero. Lee simply told Jack to "get in
your car and come back. Please don't rush". Jack knew what this
meant. He and Tom went to the Bronx and told Michael's mother Kathleen
what Lee said. Kathleen and Jack now faced certain truth. Michael was gone.
While Jack returned to Ground Zero, Kathleen contacted Michael's
siblings and fiancée. All the siblings and spouses who were in the
area immediately went to Ground Zero.
At the site, we found that firefighters from both of
Michael's companies were present. In fact, it was some of his fellow
firefighters, and cousin FF Mike Morrissey who first found Michael. FF Tom
Warkenthien stood beside the Stokes stretcher, which was covered with
an American Flag, and said to Jack "Thank God we found him".
Although family members advised to stand at the top of the
bridge road until the Honor Guard brought Michael up the ramp, we insisted on being allowed to go to bedrock the bottom of the
site. We were escorted by our nephew and cousin, NYPD Sgt. John
O'Hara. Finally, we were able to carry Michael, out of Ground Zero.
Like so many other families, we hoped that we could immediately bury
Michael in sacred ground. However, we learned that DNA tests had to be
performed. The Medical Examiner informed us that when Michael was
found, he was either carrying a woman or shielding her with his coat.
Their remains were mingled.
Our wait was not over but, knowing how important it was to us to
find Michael, we understood that it was absolutely necessary for the
ME to see if he could identify this woman who died in Michael's arms.
It is our hope that someday we will learn her identity.
On May 3, 2002, we finally held a Mass of the Resurrection at St.
Frances de Chantal Church, Michael's home parish in the Bronx.
Michael's uncle, Theodore Cardinal McCarrick said the Mass. In his
homily, Uncle Ted said:
"All of us are asked to live for others, some of us are asked
to die for others".
These words are inscribed on Michael's headstone. Michael was
laid to rest in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Valhalla, New York. Now
that the ordeal of recovering Michael is finally over, we have a place
to visit him and communicate with his spirit.
We do not understand the hatred and evil that led to the acts of
September 11th but we place our trust in God, in good times and in bad
times. With His grace, love and peace will prevail and we await the
day that we will be united with our brave Michael in heaven.
To learn more about the Lynch family and the life of Michael, you
are welcome to review the photo album.
The Guestbook was started
soon after the attack and contains kinds thoughts and prayers from
friends, family, and well-wishers from all over the world. You
are welcome to share your share your
thoughts.
YOU ARE MY UNCLE
A Poem, By Ryan Baker, Age 10
January, 22, 2003
You are my uncle
Bright, brave, and strong
You are my uncle
Always there when something's wrong
You were a fireman
Helping out wherever you went,
You didn't need superpowers,
Like superman a.k.a. Clark Kent
You were a great fisherman.
You helped me catch a 15-pounder
And it made us all laugh
When Grandpa Jack only caught a bass
But when some towers collapsed
You had to put your gear on
This time, unfortunately, the last.
You have died with honor
Never to walk again
You were my uncle
Now dead and gone
But in my heart,
I know you will live on.
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