Evelyn Ford worked as an EMT for nearly three decades and died from COVID-19.

"She loves her job more than anything," her son Adrian Tellado said. "She lived for her children, she lived for her grandchildren."

What You Need To Know

  • The FDNY held its annual remembrance for 10 members who died in the past year

  • Two members being honored this year died from COVID 

  • FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said he supported a mandatory vaccine rule, without the option for weekly testing  <

She was among the uniformed members of the FDNY honored on Wednesday as part of the annual rememberance for those who died in the past year.

Of 16 FDNY members who died from COVID since the pandemic began, Ford and firefighter Joseph Ferrugia were the only two uniformed FDNY members. The rest were civilians.

Mayor Bill de Blasio praised those who worked through the pandemic and talked about Ford.

"Since 1994, she had served the people of this city she worked for the best medical dispatch unit in the world and everytime a New Yorker was in need she was there for them," de Blasio said.

Ford died in December. She had worked through the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the pandemic.

"It's the kind of job where you have to put your self first, you are on the front lines and you do have to hold that responsibility and she did it well," Tellado said.

And younger EMTs would look to her for information and guidance.

"A lot of them look up to her and that meant a lot to us, as a family, to know she made such a difference," Tellado said.

FDNY members are now under orders to get a vaccine or submit to weekly tests.

After the ceremony, FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said he backs a vaccine mandate, without a weekly testing alternative.

"I absolutely do, I think it will save lives," Nigro said. "We lost 16 members of this department. We have two families here today in tears, losing their family member to COVID. I think it's time, people had a long time to think about this for our members to be mandated. They're out there treating the public."

For Ford, she was close to retiring, hoping to start a new chapter in life with her grandchildren.

"My daughter is 6 now, she really wanted to spend a lot more time with her," Tellado said. "She loved her."

Asked about a possible vaccine mandate, Ford's son said it's a personal decision. For him, he decided to get the shot. For his mother, he said, she died a week before a vaccine would have been available to her.