Bold starting line: A father’s relentless search for his son ended with a lifelong mission to protect others, a journey that claimed him 24 years after the 9/11 tragedy. And this is the part most people miss: the fight for survivors didn’t end when the towers fell.
New York — On September 11, 2001, as the second World Trade Center tower collapsed, New York City Fire Department Battalion Chief James “Jim” Riches sprang into action at Ground Zero. His eldest son, Jimmy Jr., a firefighter with Ladder 114 in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park, had responded to the call in lower Manhattan that morning and was last seen carrying an injured woman from the North Tower lobby. Instead of marking Jimmy Jr.’s 30th birthday the following day, Riches devoted six months to a tireless, dangerous search through twisted steel and ash, hoping to find the son who had followed in his footsteps. Jimmy Jr. was among the 343 firefighters who perished that day.
As the towers and surrounding structures collapsed, a dense, toxic plume of dust, gases, and smoke engulfed lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, a consequence later documented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"He was there every day to find his son," recalled Richard Browers, a retired FDNY lieutenant and former president of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association. Riches’ search culminated in March 2002 when Jimmy Jr.’s crushed helmet bearing Ladder 114’s number was found among the rubble of the North Tower, with his body discovered nearby.
Twenty-four years later, the toxins that Riches inhaled during those months of search would contribute to his own death. He passed away on Thanksgiving Day at age 74, becoming one of more than 400 FDNY members lost to 9/11-related illnesses. In all, thousands of firefighters, EMTs, and recovery workers still confront cancers, lung disease, heart conditions, digestive disorders, and other chronic ailments linked to Ground Zero exposure.
Riches spent two decades fighting for justice on behalf of 9/11 survivors, victims, and their families. He joined the fire department in 1977 and earned the nickname “Big Daddy” for always having one of his sons by his side. Jimmy Jr., a former NYPD officer, joined the FDNY in 1999, and his three younger brothers — Timothy, Danny, and Thomas — would later become firefighters as well.
When Jimmy Jr.’s body was recovered, Riches and his son, FDNY Captain Thomas Riches (then 17), carried him from Ground Zero, placing him on a stretcher wrapped in an American flag as colleagues prepared for a solemn procession. Riches recalled how a whole crew worked side-by-side, crawling on their hands and knees to recover him.
Even after the body was found, Riches remained at Ground Zero daily until recovery operations ended in May 2002, determined to help every family affected by the tragedy. He consistently emphasized that while there is no real closure for a parent who loses a child, he could honor Jimmy Jr. by assisting others and ensuring their loved ones were not forgotten. He later noted how his commitment extended beyond his own grief to a broader mission of supporting all those touched by 9/11.
In the years that followed, Riches witnessed fellow responders fall ill, coughing up blood and battling mysterious cancers and lung diseases. He sounded the alarm—writing letters, speaking at union meetings, and testifying before lawmakers about the growing health crisis among first responders. He faced his own health crisis in 2005, suffering acute respiratory distress syndrome that left him in a coma for 16 days. He eventually recovered but never regained his full lung capacity.
Riches retired in 2007 as deputy chief, the highest rank a firefighter can reach without a city appointment. Throughout his life, he was a formidable presence—on the basketball court, in FDNY leagues, and on the shore where he ran daily. He and his sons often played together, forming a family “force to be reckoned with.”
He became a fearless advocate for first responders, 9/11 victims, and their families, eventually chairing 9/11 Families and Parents of Firefighters and WTC Victims. His advocacy helped establish the World Trade Center Health Program and the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. He testified before Congress, met with the Obama administration, and even traveled to Guantánamo Bay to represent families during hearings regarding those charged in the attacks.
Locally, Riches publicly challenged political leadership, criticizing then-mayor Rudy Giuliani for politicizing the tragedy and for the city’s outdated equipment and inadequate preparation—especially radios that impeded mayday calls.
When the 9/11 Memorial Museum opened in 2014, Riches attended not to celebrate but to voice concern about it becoming a revenue-driven tourist site. He argued that the museum does not fund 9/11 survivors or sponsor related medical research, and the museum declined to comment specifically on support for 9/11 families.
Riches’ devotion to family and fellow firefighters became legendary. He inspired others not only through his persistence but through his daily acts of care. His legacy endures in a Dyker Heights street named after his son, scholarships in Jimmy Jr.’s honor, and the countless lives he impacted through advocacy. He never truly left Ground Zero—he stayed to support grieving families and sick responders for the rest of his life.
His funeral, held December 1 at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, drew mourners who lined the block in pouring rain. Witnesses recalled the outpouring of stories and respect, including remarks from top firefighters who credited Riches with setting the tone for the department. The procession was marked by the solemn chorus of bagpipes—a final tribute to a man who never ceased fighting for those who served.
For further information on World Trade Center–related illnesses and the World Trade Center Health Program, you can consult the CDC’s resources on the topic.
