William Peter Blaich, of Sunset Beach, North Carolina, passed away on June 5, 2026, in Iron Station, North Carolina, surrounded by family and friends after a long battle with World Trade Center cancer.A Vietnam Veteran and proud member of the United States Army, William retired as a full Colonel, with deployments including Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm.
William began his career with the Fire Department of New York in 1969, serving at Engine 277 during the war years. In 1980, as a newly assigned Lieutenant with Ladder 123, he received the Uniformed Fire Officers Association Medal of Valor for rescuing two infant children from a Brooklyn fire.
He later served as Captain of Engine 9 in Chinatown, responding with E9 to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. He then served as Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion in Lower Manhattan. He again responded to the World Trade Center attacks in September 2001, spending countless hours and days on scene. His service and sacrifice saved many lives, and it ultimately led to the terminal illness that he endured. For his actions that day and beyond, he received numerous citations and awards throughout his career. In honor of his sacrifice, he will receive a line-of-duty funeral with full honors.
Born and raised in Staten Island, New York, William later retired to Sunset Beach, North Carolina. He was known for being a conversationalist with everyone he met and for staying active in retirement with the Carolina Retirees of the Fire Department of New York. Above all, his greatest love was family, friends, and brother firefighters.
William was the son of Charles and Rosemary, and a brother to Charlie, Mary, Barbara, and Jimmy. He was the devoted husband to the late Dorothy Ellen Blaich. He was a loving father to Peter, Christopher, Matthew, and Ellen, and a proud grandfather to 11 grandchildren, with a great-grandchild soon to arrive.
His line-of-duty funeral services will be held on June 13, 2026 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, located at 537 NC-16, Denver, North Carolina 28037. Visitation will take place in the church from 12:00PM to 1:00PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated following the visitation beginning at 1:30PM. Military Honors will follow rendered by the United States Army.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill’s family. He was a firemen’s fireman. I remember getting a call of a car in the water on south street. When the truck pull up Bill was in the water diving in search of victims. He always took care of his men and was well respected by all who knew him. God Bless you Bill , may you rest in peace!