By Dee Richard
We first met Police Officer Thomas Brophy in the Whitestone Diner in early 2001. He was 32 years old. Brophy and his partner Richie Seagriff often stopped in at the diner late at night after they finished their tour of duty in the 109th Precinct. My husband and I also stopped in at the diner late in the evening after covering local events. Sam, one of the partners at the diner, my husband, myself, Seagriff and Brophy often shared light banter and a few laughs there.Brophy was a man full of life, love and laughter. He was one of those charming, engaging, irresistible Irishmen. Apparently, however, he did not seem to have the luck of the Irish. To know Brophy was to love him. He was truly a rare individual. He was always smiling and could never say no to a friend who asked for a favor. He was one of the most cheerful men and always displayed good humor.That all came to an end April 21, when Brophy left all of us to mourn him.His youngest brother, Justin Brophy, delivered a heartbreaking eulogy, when he stated, “I would like to start by giving my sincere thank you to everyone who is here today. I would also like to thank all the family and friends who were there for Thomas over the last year and a half. I know that it was the love and support of all of you that helped him to have the strength to fight as hard as he did. I would also like to thank the New York Police Department and all of Thomas's fellow officers who were so wonderful to both Thomas and his family. The phone calls, the visits, the donations, you have no idea how appreciated it was and still is. Thomas was proud to call himself a New York City police officer and I know that he thought of you not as just fellow officers, but as brothers.”As I look to the pews today, I see faces that mirror mine; they are etched in sorrow and lined with sadness. However, behind the tears that fall for Thomas I see great love and respect.”Thomas was a true hero. When the tragedy of Sept. 11 happened, Thomas was one of the selfless workers who helped put New York City and ground zero back together again. Thomas just loved life and he loved being alive, that is why he was able to put up such an amazing fight against such a terrible disease. Through all of this, amazingly enough, Thomas barely ever complained or felt sorry for himself. All he ever cared about was trying to hold on for his 3-year-old son Matthew, his wife Rita and everyone else who loved him.”The last few weeks of his life, it became obvious to him that the end was near. As hopeful as Thomas was, about two months ago he had written a letter that he wanted to be read in case he wasn't able to fight any more.”Tom wrote: 'First of all I want to thank everyone for being here, I don't understand why I was cut down in the prime of my life, but unfortunately I have no control over it. One of my biggest concerns of dying was leaving my beautiful little boy with no father. I had so many dreams of spending time with my son. I wanted to take him to baseball games, movies, fishing… I just wanted to be there for him during all his good times as well as the bad ones. This is why I fought my disease so hard for every precious extra day that I was able to spend with him. Everyone who has been there for me, please be there for me now that I am gone from my wife and son and look after them for me.'”There was not a dry eye in the entire church. Brophy's funeral mass was held in Holy Cross Church in Nesconset. Brophy and his wife Rita had been married in the same church exactly six years plus one day. The New York Police Department showed a great deal of love and respect for a fallen brother. There must have been at least 200 officers attending the funeral. There were representatives from the Department of Corrections, the 109th and 113th precincts and the Nassau and Suffolk County police departments. The New York State Police also had a detail present, as Brophy's brother Brian is a New York State Trooper. The NYPD Ceremonial Unit provided the color guard and funeral detail along with a piper. There was also a fly-over by a police helicopter. The police also provided officers who played “taps.” There was another heart-wrenching moment, when they presented Rita with the folded American and NYPD Department flags and little Matthew asked “Mommy, where is my daddy?” Even the toughest officer couldn't hold back the tears. Not even Chief Tuller, I think, who came all the way from his Queens Borough North Command Headquarters to attend Brophy's funeral.The Brophy family would like to thank the Flushing Asian Community for their wonderful support and monies they raised for Tommy at a generous fund-raiser they held for him when they first heard of his illness. The Brophy family also wishes to thank Tommy's good friends, P.O. Augie and Sgt. Craig and Sgt. Patrick of the 109th who were always there for Tommy. They took him out for breakfast every Sunday to cheer him up and keep him in touch with the 109th Precinct happenings. They also took turns every other week driving him into Sloan Kettering for his chemotherapy treatments. They are all princes among men.They have set up a scholarship fund for young Matthew. If anyone would care to contribute the address is the Matthew Brophy Education Fund, P.O. Box 983, Comack NY 11725.Rita Brophy would also like to hear from other police officers or their families who worked at the World Trade Center on or after Sept. 11, 2001, pertaining to any physical problems that may have occurred after working there. You can forward any such information to her in care of the 109th Precinct located on Union Street in Flushing.That's all for this week, Our voice mail is 718-767-6484; our fax is 718-746-0066 and our e-mail deerrichard@aol.com.Till next week, Dee.
