Retired FDNY firefighter Thomas Del Pino died on Sept. 14, 2025, from a 9/11-related brain cancer, his son, NYPD Detective Daniel Del Pino, confirmed. Del Pino, 66, had been diagnosed with diffuse midbrain glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer, in July 2025. He passed away just three days after attending a Sept. 11 memorial service in his uniform, fulfilling a promise to never forget the victims of the terrorist attacks.

Del Pino was a firefighter for 18 years and served as the chauffeur for Ladder Co. 85 out of Staten Island. On Sept. 11, 2001, his truck was among the first dispatched to the World Trade Center. He recalled being at the scene when the second tower collapsed, with him and a colleague diving under a firetruck for safety. He remained at Ground Zero for days afterward, searching for survivors and remains.

His son, Daniel, who followed his father and grandfather into public service as an NYPD detective, stated that his father was grateful to have survived the initial attack but was deeply affected by survivor's guilt. This guilt, Daniel Del Pino said, motivated his father to assist another family who had lost their firefighter father, by being the one to inform their children that their father would not be returning home. The remains of that firefighter were never found.

Thomas Del Pino was the son of an NYPD officer and had a fire truck from Ladder Co. 85, his unit on 9/11, at his memorial. He was proud of his son, Daniel, who was promoted to detective in 2025, the same year Thomas received his cancer diagnosis. Daniel Del Pino noted that his father had listened to police scanners to track his calls and was overjoyed at his detective promotion.

Following his diagnosis, Del Pino underwent six weeks of radiation. However, his liver began to fail about a month later as a complication of the treatment. His final public appearance was at two Sept. 11 memorial services near his home in Milford, Pa., where he attended in a wheelchair, wearing his uniform. He slipped into a coma two days after the services and died on Sept. 14. "He knew it was coming. It wasn’t if it was going to get him, but when," his son said.