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Anonymous (not verified)

February 17, 2020

I have never personally known anyone in the D'Allara family. Today I just want to send a tribute to a hero that died eleven years ago today. I'm certain John was a brave and unselfish person. It seemed like he was a very dedicated and loving man. I personally will never forget the efforts John surely put forth including all the men and women that lost their lives saving anyone they could. I'm positive he will never be forgotten and will forever be loved and missed. Thank you John D'Allara for your great services to anyone you helped. You certainly died a true hero to this country.

Posted by Kyle Cepero

Anonymous (not verified)

February 17, 2020

I currently am a freshman in high school so when this tragedy occurred I was just a toddler. All my years in school we had learned about this devastating event but I had never really connected with this. That was until I was shown this link and was browsing through all of the photos and biographies of the thousands of victims. Then I stumbled across this one. I got chills my face grew hot and my breathing halted. My uncle is very similar to John. Almost a mirror image really. Typing this in class is difficult for I am about to cry. John was one of New York's finest and will always be remembered as that. He gave his live to save others and that is the noblest thing for a person to do and I admire him for that. I wish his family the best and I know that he will always be loved and remembered. Although he has passed because of his bravery he will forever be the best father figure role model and overall a man every boy wants to grow up to be.

Posted by Cera Norris

Anonymous (not verified)

February 17, 2020

I was thinking of John. In the early 90's, while I was a sector car officer in the 25 Precinct, John would respond to our emergencies. On one occasion my partner and I went into a junkyard and found three large pitbulls approaching us aggressively. John and the two of us jumped onto the top of some junk cars and I was preparing to shoot the dogs before we were bitten. John saw that the dogs were more bark than bite talked to the dogs as they were barking and growling right below us. He calmly told me not to shoot and said he would handle them and found a way to control the dogs without anyone getting hurt. We thought he was crazy and had a few laughs about the whole thing but he was all business and out of no where he was giving them snacks. Not sure where he got them from but it was pretty funny. The dogs were nasty looking but were very happy to have the snacks and left us alone. Thanks to him we were fine and the dogs were fine also. He had a very special way about him. We are all lucky to have known him.

Posted by Ed

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Age:
47
Place of Residence:
Pearl River, NY
Location on 9/11:
WTC
Occupation:
New York Police Department | Police Officer
Reflections:
The New York Times Portraits of Grief
John D'Allara Scholarship
Biography:

John D’Allara, alumni of Saint Lucy’s School, graduated Class of 1969. He was married on September 24, 1988 at St. Lucy’s Church. John and his wife Carol gave birth to a son named Nicholas. Sadly, John’s funeral mass was said on June II, 2002. He was killed during the 9-11 Twin Towers tragedy.

John D’ Allara was a man of many talents. As a kid he attended St. Lucy’s School in the Bronx. He was a boy scout and enjoyed playing sports. He worked as a camp counselor during the summer and was an altar boy during the year. As a teenager, John attended Christopher Columbus High School and played sandlot football for three years. John was on the Columbus Physical Fitness Team and placed third in the New York State championships. At seventeen he placed second in the New York City judo championships Junior division). John prided himself on being a worthy opponent and always giving his best effort.

As a young adult, John attended Lehman College in the Bronx, majoring in Physical Education. John became a professional bodybuilder working out of Mid City Gym in Manhattan from 1973 to 1978. In 1976 he was a contender for the Mr. East Coast title. At the same time, he was coaching Pop Warner League Football for the Eastchester Ramblers organization. In 1977 John coached the Columbus Fitness Team from March to June. He graduated Lehman College with a BA in 1978. During his student teaching John coached the Columbus Fitness Team to an East Coast championship in 1978. John was always interested in giving back to the community and sports provided him an avenue to serve his community.

After receiving a New York City teaching certificate in 1978, John worked per diem at Columbus High School, Roosevelt High School and then Park West High School. He taught physical education at Park West from 1981 to 1983. Rodney Gillis was one of his students. In January 1983 John D’ Allara was accepted to the Police Academy and graduated in June 1983. He worked for the New York City Transit Police Dept., 46th Precinct, Bronx Task Force and then for the Emergency Service Unit Truck 2.

John was an officer for eighteen years. Fourteen years were served in Emergency Service. This is an Elite unit with highly trained officers who provide tactical weapons and backup for precinct officers and brings to the aid of citizens an extraordinary range of rescue techniques, skills and knowledge. During his tenure John was still involved in teaching. He was assigned to teach the remote tactics program (robot and surveillance equipment) to other members of the Emergency Service Unit and together with Police Officer Paul Hargrove, rewrote the operations manual.

In keeping with his thirst for knowledge,. John took courses and received certification as a Hazardous Materials technician, Nuclear Chemical And Biological Weapons Technician, Emergency Psychological Technician, Sharp Shooter and Sniper Training member and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). He was also a First Aid Instructor, Remote Tactics Instructor, O.S.H.A. instructor and was on the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration) team. John received many awards citing excellent police duty, meritorious police duty and exceptional merit commendations. In addition to his police career, John returned to Lehman College in 1985 and received his Masters of Science degree in 1988 while attending night classes. He was also a volunteer firefighter with the Pearl River Hook & Ladder Co.

John was a loving husband and a devoted father to his sons John and Nicholas. He is also survived by his parents, John and Helen, his twin brother Dan and wife Angela, and sorely missed by all his in-laws and nephews. John was with the New York City Police Department Emergency Services Unit, assigned to Truck Two. He was an eighteen-year veteran of the force and loved his job. John’s Unit was one of the first to arrive after the planes had hit the Twin Towers on 9-11. When John went into the World Trade Center he wanted to do anything he could to assist in getting people out of the building or lending a hand to those desperately seeking a hand to hold. John never wanted to be a hero; he just wanted to help, protect and serve the people. He wanted to make a difference in the world. For John, the purpose of life was to matter- to count for something, to stand up for something, to have it make some difference that we lived at all.