POUGHKEEPSIE – On June 10, 2019, helicopter pilot Timothy McCormack crash landed his twin-engine helicopter on top of a 54-story skyscraper in midtown Manhattan during rainy weather. The chopper burst into flames and McCormack perished in the crash. On Tuesday, McCormack was laid to rest in Poughkeepsie.
The experienced helicopter pilot is credited with avoiding a mass-casualty incident during the crash by landing on the building as opposed to the streets of the city.
McCormack, 58, had also served as a local firefighter in Dutchess County, including 10 years as the chief of the East Clinton Fire District.
County Emergency Services Coordinator Dana Smith said it was “important to recognize his service.” Noting his grandfather and father had also been members of emergency services, Smith said it was “sort of a family business” for the McCormacks.
First responders, family, friends, and political leaders joined together at St. Mary’s Church in Poughkeepsie for the funeral mass. As rain fell from the skies, the funeral procession arrived at the church with McCormack’s casket in the bed of an antique fire engine provided by the Millbrook Fire Department. With fire department personnel standing at attention, McCormack’s casket was wheeled past them into the church where the Christian mass was held.
(Action News Service video)
Upon exiting the church, first responders again stood at attention while the casket was loaded onto the antique engine for the chief’s final ride; to St. Peter’s Cemetery.
Family and friends, including the chief’s brother, Michael, chairman of the Dutchess County Republican Committee, followed the casket from the church. The surviving McCormack was clutching a folded American flag that had been presented to the family. The funeral procession departed for the cemetery led by two motorcycles from the Dutchess County Sheriff’s office and included fire apparatus from Stanford, Pleasant Valley, and West Clinton fire departments. City of Poughkeepsie police officers stopped traffic at all intersections during the procession.
