The FDNY is saddened to announce the death of FDNY Chaplain Monsignor John Delendick, a 28-year veteran of the Department who succumbed to World Trade Center related cancer on November 23, 2023. Monsignor Delendick was 74 years old.
“Monsignor Delendick was a spiritual constant and staple in our Department, in good times and in bad. Immediately after the immeasurable losses of September 11th, he stepped up to provide guidance and comfort to FDNY members and other first responders,” said Fire Commissioner Kavanagh. “In his decades long career as a chaplain with the FDNY, he was a pillar at Department funerals, graduations, promotions, and memorials. He was always quick with a joke and a kind word and had a way of making everyone feel special.
He was beloved, and we are heartbroken over his passing.” Delendick began as a Chaplain with the FDNY in 1996. In this role, he bestowed blessings upon new graduates, members being promoted, and the Department’s marine fleet. He participated in plaque dedications, offered his presence at funerals, and visited with Department members. He was a dedicated religious servant, particularly after September 11, when he took on an expanded role with the death of FDNY Chaplain Father Mychal Judge. His days were dedicated to attending memorial and funeral services and checking in with fellow members involved in the rescue mission.