He had a wicked sense of humor, a contagious laugh, and a sly grin to accommodate his mischievous antics.
Meet Danny.
The younger brother of Tommy, Danny followed in his brother’s footsteps and also became a NYC firefighter. On September 11, 2001, when Danny realized that Tommy was on site at Ground Zero, he spoke with his parents and made the solemn vow to find Tommy and bring him home.
Leaving his wife, Carrie, his sister Joanne, and his mother, Pat, home and praying for a miracle, Danny, along with his father, Tom, his brother in law and his cousin, spent each day at Ground Zero looking for his brother; they were tireless in their search. For 10 days, Danny fought grief, exhaustion and fear by keeping his promise to his parents and his love for his brother as his beacons of purpose. On day 11 of the search efforts, the Foley family received their miracle in a different form than they originally prayed. Against all logistical, logical and rational explanations, Danny found his brother, and brought him home to his family.
Danny’s continued purpose, grounded in service to others, found him returning to Ground Zero after Tommy was laid to rest to help other families find a semblance of peace. For months, Danny continued to return to the site and work the piles; he, like thousands of others, would feel the effects of these acts of selflessness in years to come.
After 9/11, Danny built his family with his wife, Carrie. Together, they enjoyed a family created in faith, community, and love. They were blessed with four beautiful daughters, Erin, Kiera, Brianne, and Kendall, and then, their son, Thomas James, affectionately known as ‘TJ” completed their family.
Danny never met a stranger; he had a large group of friends, and an intimate group of close friends he long considered family. He had a wicked sense of humor, a contagious laugh, and a sly grin to accommodate his mischievous antics. Danny was one of those rare people that, like his brother, wasn’t afraid to not only tell you, but show you that he loved you. He loved hard, laughed often, exuded an adventurous and generous spirit, danced as if no one was watching (which they were, Danny was a great two-stepper) and had a determination to succeed and excel that few possess. There was nothing that Danny set his mind to that he didn’t achieve. He was an avid and accomplished hunter, fisherman, football player, boxer, entrepreneur, and firefighter.
Throughout their marriage, Carrie and Danny created a lifetime of memories. As is the Foley way, living life to its fullest, surrounded by friends and family, was the rule rather than the exception. Danny loved his family fiercely, and they were by his side in 2019 when he was diagnosed with 9/11 related pancreatic cancer.
Danny endured his illness with the same determination and bravery that he did 18 years earlier when he ran into the unknown at Ground Zero to find his brother. He fought with an unwavering faith and genuine grace, and never questioned his purpose in this life. He loved fully and left a lasting impression on every person he met.
He is deeply missed. To know Danny was to love him; he could never and will never be forgotten.