Joseph Ogren, 30, firefighter, followed in father's footsteps

Studying with firefighter twin brother for upcoming lieutenant's test


Tuesday, September 25, 2001
By STEPHANIE SLEPIAN
ADVANCE STAFF WRITER


When he graduated from St. John's University, Joseph (Jay) Ogren began working in the Manhattan district attorney's office. He liked the work, but the 9-to-5 routine wasn't for him.

So Mr. Ogren followed in the footsteps of his father, Robert, and twin brother, Lance, and entered the Fire Academy. Fighting fires was in his blood.

For the last several months, the firefighter twins were studying for the upcoming lieutenant's test together. And when Lance takes that test, he knows his brother will be watching over him.

Joseph Ogren, 30, responded with Manhattan's Ladder Co. 3 to the World Trade Center attack on Sept. 11, after the fifth alarm. He is still among the missing victims.

"He was, hands down, my best friend," said his brother, a firefighter with Ladder Co. 18, also in Manhattan. "We did everything together. We went to high school together, we swam together, the works."

In addition to studying for the lieutenant's test, Mr. Ogren was planning for the biggest day of his life -- his wedding. He met the love of his life, Carrie Bergonia, in Cancun, Mexico, when they were both on vacation in 1993. Mr. Ogren proposed on New Year's Eve and the two were to be married Aug. 10, 2002, in Pennsylvania.

"He was very happy, he loved his friends," Miss Bergonia said. "He was just a wonderful guy. This is heartbreaking."

The couple ran together in the New York City Marathon twice and Mr. Ogren always joked that he beat her by "just a little bit."

Mr. Ogren graduated from the Fire Academy in 1998 and was assigned to Ladder 3. He did some training at Engine Co. 243 in Brooklyn and Engine Co. 161 in South Beach before returning to Ladder 3.

"He was proud to be a Recon Ranger," said Lance, referring to the nickname given to his brother's company. "I knew he had work that morning and I knew he'd be there."

An excellent swimmer, Mr. Ogren received a swimming scholarship to attend St. John's University in Queens, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice.

The Ogren twins were "surf guards" at Sandy Hook in New Jersey in 1991 and 1992 and were also lifeguards at the Great Kills Swim Club, where they made many friends.

And Mr. Ogren's love of the water didn't stop at swimming. As he followed his father in fighting fires, Mr. Ogren also took up his father's love of sailing. Along with Miss Bergonia, Mr. Ogren and his father went on sailing trips for the last several years in the Florida Keys, where the elder Ogren kept his boat.

Mr. Ogren also enjoyed playing the guitar.

Born in Pleasant Plains, he moved to Silver Lake in 1997.

He was a graduate of St. Peter's Boys High School and a parishioner of St. Peter's R.C. Church, New Brighton.

In addition to his fiancee, Carrie, his brother, Lance, and his father, Robert, Mr. Ogren is survived by his mother, Dorothy; two more brothers, Robert and Eric, and his sister, Patricia Ogren