His LE wife sacrificed her life to try and save their child - now he's dedicating his life to helping law enforcement families

Choir Practice is a feature interview of individuals who have shown incredible bravery, overcame adversity, and/or positively impact the law enforcement community.

HAZLET, NJ - William Montanaro was living the American dream, and his family's future looked bright. He and his wife lived happily with their two young daughters in a cozy little suburb just south of New York City. The world was at their feet. 

But everything changed dramatically in an instant that turned his world upside down. 

The night was no different than any other. As the family slept peacefully one evening, Montanaro woke up in the middle of the night only to discover his home was engulfed in flames. 

He and his wife struggled to find the children in the thick hazy black smoke. They eventually managed to fight their way outside only to realize they were missing one child. 

Without hesitation, Montanaro forced his way back into the raging inferno only to find even thicker, impenetrable smoke and was forced back outside. 

His wife then rushed inside using a different route. 

But she never made it out - both she and their daughter died that night. It's a fate no human being should ever endure.

But Montanaro did and, as one would expect, it was an extremely difficult journey.

“It wasn’t easy... many dark days. It took me easily three to four months of trying to get myself out of it. Grieving and not knowing what to do. You take things in life for granted and I loved my wife tremendously,” he said.

But he eventually dug himself out of a dark hole with the help of his surviving daughter.

“My daughter looked at me and she said, ‘Dad can I tell you something? You didn't start the fire, it wasn't you who did it. It was the fire's fault.’ It took a nine-year-old to humble me and make me come down to earth and realize that this just happened, it wasn't because of anything I did or my wife did,” Montanaro said.



It wasn’t long after the tragedy that one of Montanaro’s colleagues suggested he get involved with an organization designed to help people overcome their difficulties. He was asked to head a nonprofit organization.

“The tragedy has shaped who I am today,” Montanaro said on the Choir Practice. “I'm the CEO of the Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation now and that day changed my trajectory of what I want to do.”

The Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation is a non-profit humanitarian, apolitical, and patriotic 501(c)(3) corporation, formed as a private/public partnership of concerned business leaders and former and current high-ranking Federal Law Enforcement officials.

FEHSF provides financial support to families of Agents and Officers who are seriously injured or killed in the line of duty protecting the nation’s citizens or enforcing our laws. Additionally, FEHSF supports those Agents or Agents’ families during times of personal difficulties, tragedies, or financial hardship.

One of the reasons Montanaro accepted the position was because of the outpouring of support he and his daughter received just after the tragedy. It gave him hope and renewed his belief in humanity.

“The entire community lined up Main Street with purple, white, and pink ribbons in their honor. It blew me away,” he said.

The community put together a candlelight vigil and over 2,000 people attended – a sign of how supportive they were.

He added, "The mission of my life changed that day. Amid the tragedy, it meant the world to know that (the foundation) didn't just show up, they truly cared about my family. The organization showcases the best in humanity; leading it isn't work for me, it's a labor of love."

One of the main reasons Montanaro agreed to head the FEHSF is because of how they helped him – but also how quickly they help people.

“The mandate is that anytime we receive a grant of notice of a line of duty or a family tragedy, or a child is sick, etc., we have a 24 to 48-hour mandate that we get a check delivered to that family in their hands,” he said.

Montanaro knows firsthand how difficult everything can be in the days following a tragedy. He wants those affected to know that he and FEHSF are there quickly so that they have one less thing to worry about.

To learn more about FEHSF visit their website: https://www.fehsf.org/ Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

And to watch the full Choir Practice episode on YouTube, click HERE.

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Writer Eddie Molina is a veteran and has over 25 years of combined LEO/military service. He owns and operates the LEO apparel and accessory company www.BuyHeroStuff.com