Robert J. Pape, Jr. has been a member of the Atlantic Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 of the Port Washington Fire Department since May, 2000.
Since joining the department, Robert J. Pape, Jr. has completed all New York State fire service training and has completed numerous specialized training classes and seminars. Robert J. Pape, Jr. remains a New York State certified interior strucural firefighter. Additionally, Pape is a certified first responder under the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security. Robert J. Pape, Jr. became a New York State licensed Emergency Medical Technician-B in November, 2010 and in such capacity, recieved a life saving award in 2011 from the Port Washington Fire Department.
Robert J. Pape, Jr. was a first responder to the 9/11 attacks in New York City. Working in New York City at the time as a practicing attorney , Pape responded to FDNY Engine 65 to report for duty despite being reprimanded for such action by the law firm of which he was, at the time, a member. Upon seeing that Engine 65 had already responded to the attack, Pape reported to the FDNY’s Ninth Battallion on Eighth Avenue where he remained until the early afternoon. Robert J. Pape, Jr. spent a 12 hour shift at ground zero on the Saturday evening following the attack.
In March, 2002 Robert J. Pape, Jr. was nearly killed while fighting a structure fire in Port Washington NY, with persons trapped above
the fire floor. Pape fell through a hidden air shaft and suffered injuries from the 40 foot fall. Pape recovered from his injuries and rejoined active duties with the Port Washington Fire Department.
As a result of these instances, Robert J. Pape, Jr. was diagnosed with clinical depression in late 2002. The condition was present for many years, but remained dormant until Pape’s experience with the 9/11 attack. Pape immediately sought professional and medical help for the condition which he battled for the next seven years. Robert J. Pape, Jr.’s clinical depression responded well to treatments and is now in remission. Since this experience, Pape has offered to tell his story both privately to those who are dealing with the same disease and publicly to civic and professional organizations, including the New York State and Florida Bar Associations, with the desire to increase awareness of the disease and its symptoms and the various options for treatment of the disease which are available.