Douglas G. Greenwood, a 61-year-old male, passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2017. A resident of Greenlawn, New York, he was a retired NYPD captain and a first responder during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Following the attacks, he spent 40 consecutive days working at Ground Zero. This heroic work, however, exposed him to toxic dust and debris, leading to a slew of respiratory illnesses in the ensuing years.
After more than two decades on the police force, Greenwood embarked on a second career as the owner of the well-regarded Bleecker Street Pizza in Greenwich Village. Despite his success, he privately battled with the physical and mental tolls of his time at Ground Zero, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The immense pain from his ailments ultimately became too much to bear.
On that Tuesday in December, Douglas Greenwood took his own life in a park near his Long Island home. His death was a tragic end for a man who had dedicated his life to serving his city and who was remembered as a hero by those who knew him. There were no suspects or arrests in connection with his death, as it was determined to be a suicide.
