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Firefighter's Legacy: Cancer Death Honored Years Later
29 Apr
Summary
- Battalion Chief Lawrence Goldberg honored for occupational cancer death.
- Goldberg's sacrifice recognized years after his passing in 2019.
- Cancer is the leading cause of death for firefighters nationwide.
Battalion Chief Lawrence Goldberg's death from occupational cancer is being recognized years after he passed away in 2019. A ceremony on Friday, May 1, honored him and other fallen heroes, with six of the nine honorees succumbing to occupational cancer.
Goldberg, who died at age 50 after a three-year fight with colorectal cancer, was a lifelong member of the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company. He began as a volunteer at 18 and later served with the Baltimore City Fire Department for nearly a decade as a paramedic before moving to suppression.
His son, Zachary Goldberg, who is now an EMT/Firefighter for the Baltimore City Fire Department, often hears how his father mentored aspiring firefighters and paramedics. Chief Goldberg spent his last eight years as a battalion chief, working until the end despite his illness.
With assistance from the National Fallen Firefighters' Foundation, Goldberg's death is now officially recognized as line-of-duty from occupational cancer. His name will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters' Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Cancer is identified as the leading cause of death among firefighters, with exposure to carcinogens on the job being a significant risk. Modern synthetic materials in furnishings contribute to higher rates of such cancers among firefighters.
