By Mike Matteo
Staten Island Advance, N.Y.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Robert S. Fawcett, 64, a retired sergeant and detective with the New York Police Department, died after a long fight with 9/11-related illnesses.
“He was a fighter through all that,” his son Daniel Fawcett said. “He was. He always maintained his composure, despite me losing my mind.”
After growing up on Lyon Place in Westerleigh, Robert —or Bob, as he was known to many — graduated Port Richmond High School before completing his Bachelor’s degree at Wagner College.
In 1986, Robert followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the NYPD as part of the 62nd Precinct in southwestern Brooklyn.
During his 21-year NYPD career, Robert earned promotions to sergeant and homicide detective.
“I don’t think I saw him for three days after 9/11,” his son Daniel recalled. “After that, they opened up the landfill and he was one of the first people up there. He stayed at the landfill for as long as it lasted.”
After his work recovering human remains and personal effects at Fresh Kills, Robert was assigned to the 76th precinct in Brooklyn where he would eventually retire.
Beyond his time with the NYPD, Robert found work with Phillips & Jordan, the disaster relief company contracted by New York City to oversee relief and recovery work after 9/11.
“I think he was home for three months before he started losing it and decided that he needed to go back to work,” said Daniel Fawcett.
In his post- NYPD career, Robert was also instrumental in helping to salvage and donate items for exhibits at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, according to his son Daniel.
His family remembered Robert as a hard-working father who would take on his children’s interests like they were his own. When not working, he loved to ski and play golf, and was a fantastic cook, especially of his grandmother’s pierogi recipe.
He is survived by his daughter Samantha, his sons Daniel, Christopher and Robert Brian, and his five grandchildren.
“He was always trying to improve not only himself, but his children as well,” said Daniel.
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