A steady stream of mourners payed their respect Saturday in West Islip to an FDNY firefighter who died from Sept. 11-related cancer.

Surrounded by his wife and daughter-in-law, Fred Gallagher never thought he'd be saying goodbye to his 61-year old son Freddy. But tonight - alongside fellow firefighters - he remembered his son as a hero, a loving man and a prankster with a rapier-like wit.

His family says Freddy answered the call on 9/11 and spent weeks on the pile during the recovery efforts. He later was diagnosed with multiple cancers related to his time at ground zero.

His father says he never lost his sense of duty, retiring with 28 years of service from his Brooklyn firehouse.

He says his son was selfless and always wanted to comfort his family even when he was very sick.

A full firefighter's funeral is planned for Gallagher on Monday morning in West Islip.