A funeral was held Saturday afternoon in Manhattan for a 9/11 first responder and veteran city firefighter who passed away due to Lou Gehrig's disease.

John H. Matthews, who had worked with the FDNY for more than 26 years before he retired, was honored at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Harlem.

Friends and family members remember Matthews as a big presence in the community, with an even bigger heart.

"He was a real stand-up guy," said funeral attendee Toya Dilligard, a friend of Mathews. "If you needed him, he was there, anytime, anyplace, anywhere — he would travel to come help a person out."

Matthews started his career with Engine 46 and retired from Engine 97.