Ground Zero hero Thomas Del Pino lost his brutal battle with 9\/11-related brain cancer \u2014 dying just three days after honoring his fallen brothers last year.<\/p>\n
The retired firefighter, 66, was among the more than 57,044 first responders diagnosed with Sept. 11 cancer <\/a>and one of 5,892 people who came into contact with the toxic dust generated by the WTC terrorist attacks to die of the disease.<\/p>\n Del Pino had 18 years on the job and was the chauffeur for Ladder Co. 85 out of Staten Island when the planes struck on Sept. 11, 2001. \u00a0<\/p>\n Firefighter Thomas Del Pino with his son, NYPD Detective Daniel Del Pino. Courtesy of Daniel Del Pino<\/p>\n \u201cHe was extremely grateful that he got to survive that day,\u201d his 38-year-old son, NYPD Detective Daniel Del Pino, told The Post ahead of the 25th anniversary of the attacks. \u201cHis big thing was he never wanted anyone to forget about 9\/11.\u201d<\/p>\n His truck was one of the first sent to the scene because it had the highest ladder available \u2014 a 95-footer, though it had no chance of extinguishing a fire 1,500 feet above ground.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were pulling up when the second tower came down,\u201d the son said. \u201cHim and another guy ended up diving under a firetruck.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Del Pino remained on the pile for days<\/a> looking for survivors and remains. <\/p>\n The FDNY lost 343 members that day.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was something that really haunted him \u2014 the survivor\u2019s guilt,\u201d the son said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Firefighter Thomas Del Pino was diagnosed with 9\/11-related brain cancer. Courtesy of Daniel Del Pino<\/p>\n That was one of the reasons his dad made himself \u201cthe liaison\u201d to another family who lost their firefighter father in the attacks.<\/p>\n \u201cMy dad had to be the one to tell the kids that their dad wasn\u2019t coming home,\u201d Del Pino recalled. \u201cHis remains were never found. My dad carried that with him.\u201d<\/p>\n Del Pino had thought about following in his father\u2019s footsteps since he was a little kid, but he had blue blood in him as well, he said. His dad\u2019s father was an NYPD officer for 22 years. <\/p>\n The rubble of the World Trade Center smoulders following a terrorist attack in New York on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2001. (Corbis Historical) Corbis via Getty Images<\/p>\n His dad suggested he take all the city\u2019s civil services tests and the NYPD called in 2010.<\/p>\n \u201cThese guys were all heroes,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen everyone else was running away, cops and firemen were running into danger.\u201d<\/p>\n His dad was proud he followed in his grandfather\u2019s footsteps.<\/p>\n Firefighter Thomas Del Pino\u2019s fire truck, Ladder 85 out of Staten Island pictured during the Sept. 11 attacks. Courtesy of Daniel Del Pino<\/p>\n Firefighter Thomas Del Pino wanted to make sure Sept. 11 is remembered. Courtesy of Daniel Del Pino<\/p>\n Firefighter Thomas Del Pino died on Sept. 14, 2025. Courtesy of Daniel Del Pino<\/p>\n \u201cHe bought a (police) scanner,\u201d Del Pino recalled. \u201cWhen I was assigned to the 77th precinct (in Crown Heights, Brooklyn), he would listen to the radio to see if I was going on any calls.\u201d<\/p>\n The father was over the moon again when his son was promoted to detective last year. Unfortunately, the son said, it was the same year his dad received his cancer diagnosis.<\/p>\n The elder Del Pino had a biopsy on July 1, 2025, and was diagnosed with diffuse midbrain glioblastoma<\/a> \u2013 a rare aggressive malignant brain tumor more commonly detected in children.<\/p>\n Daniel Del Pino, who was promoted to detective in 2025, stands next to his proud father. Courtesy of Daniel Del Pino<\/p>\n He received radiation for five days a week for six weeks, but his liver began failing about a month later as a result, the son said.<\/p>\n