New York City Fire Department • Line of Duty Death: May 16, 2021
Retired FDNY Firefighter Thomas G. Oelkers of Ladder 44, died of World Trade Center-related illness on May 16, 2021.
Oelkers was a firefighter for the FDNY for 19 years after serving four years with the New York Police Department.
He was stationed at Ladder 44 in the Bronx nearly his entire FDNY career.
He also played for the FDNY football team when they were rebuilding the team post 9/11.
Tom was diagnosed with cancer in August 2020 and passed away less than a year later on May 16th.
He left behind his wife Erika and their three daughters.
Tunnel to Towers paid off the mortgage on his family’s home.