James Delman, a Locksmith and Carpenter with NYCT who had 38 years of service has died of pulmonary fibrosis, which he contracted while working as a member of the bucket brigade and clean-up crew at the World Trade Center disaster. He passed away on Sunday, May 6.
Delman, then a candidate for a bilateral lung transplant, was too ill to attend the union's 9/11 ceremony in September of last year. His grand-daughter, Sadie, accepted the medal from President Utano on his behalf. Delman told the Daily News that "I still get nightmares" from the memories of the twisted metal and dust from the demolished WTC buildings.
James Delman's family will be receiving friends on Wednesday, May 9th, from 2 to 4 and from 7 to 9 at the Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, 145 Catherine Boulevard, in Toms River, New Jersey. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 10th, at 11 AM at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Toms River, with burial to follow. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.ryanfuneralhome.com.
Brother Delman is one of approximately 35 TWU Local 100 members and retirees who have received the union's 9/11 medal, crafted to honor transit workers at Ground Zero who were awarded compensation for their illnesses and injuries by the federal goverment's Victim Compensation Board (VCF). He was one of approximately 3,000 transit workers who were either directed to respond to the terror attack or who volunteered to serve. Our members cut through iron, cleared wreckage, operated heavy equipment, and drove first responders to the site using MTA buses.