Overview
- Riches died on Thanksgiving at age 74 from a 9/11-related illness, according to the FDNY and union officials.
- He spent months at Ground Zero and personally recovered the remains of his firefighter son, Jimmy Riches Jr., in March 2002.
- The 30-year FDNY veteran retired in 2007 after severe respiratory illnesses that he and his family linked to toxic dust exposure.
- The funeral Mass took place at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Bay Ridge as firefighters lined the street to honor him.
- The Uniformed Fire Officers Association said his death adds to a toll now exceeding 400 FDNY members lost to post‑9/11 illnesses, surpassing the 343 who died on the day of the attacks.