Family and friends said their last goodbyes to Supervising Fire Marshall George Snyder Jr.

What You Need To Know

  • According to the department, the 53-year-old FDNY veteran died more than a week ago on Aug. 10 after suffering a cardiac episode following a day of work

  • Supervising Fire Marshall George Snyder Jr. is the 1,161st member of the FDNY to die in the line of duty

  • Hundreds of uniformed FDNY members attended Snyder’s funeral at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan. They were joined by city officials, including Mayor Eric Adams and newly appointed Fire Commissioner Robert S. Tucker.

According to the department, the 53-year-old FDNY veteran died more than a week ago on Aug. 10 after suffering a cardiac episode following a day of work.

Snyder is the 1,161st member of the FDNY to die in the line of duty.

Hundreds of uniformed FDNY members attended Snyder’s funeral at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan. They were joined by city officials, including Mayor Eric Adams, who thanked Snyder’s mother.

“He served in the greatest fire department in the history of this country,” Adams said. “And you, like other mothers, I believe this is a biblical moment. You gave us your only son.”

Loved ones and colleagues said he found purpose in his work, which was giving back to others and making the city safer.

“It is now time for our department to blanket his family in the honor and compassion he showed us every day when he came to work,” recently appointed Fire Commissioner Robert S. Tucker said.

Colleagues said Snyder, who was affectionately known to those closest to him as “Georgie,” risked his life for New Yorkers for more than two decades.

Starting as a firefighter in Manhattan in 2002, Snyder was promoted to a fire marshal in 2009, and was promoted again to supervising fire marshal in 2019.

Most recently, he led the department’s Lithium Ion Battery Task Force, which investigated fires caused by those batteries powering e-bikes and e-scooters.

“The Lithium Ion Battery task force was born,” John Orlando, supervising fire marshal of the FDNY’s Bureau of Fire Investigation, said.“George became my best asset in the field.”

Snyder is survived by his mother, three sisters, his nephew, as well as his long-time girlfriend and her son.

“We know there’s a special place in heaven for first responders and for George,” FDNY Supervising Fire Marshal Joseph Cultrera said.

Snyder was cited five times for meritorious acts throughout his 22-year career, according to the FDNY.

The last member of the department to die in the line of duty was EMT Frederick D. Whiteside of PSAC2 in the Bronx, who died on Nov. 17, 2023.