A quiet Bay Ridge street now bears the name of a man whose life was anything but ordinary.
The corner of 97th Street and Shore Road in Bay Ridge was officially renamed “Peter L. Bushey Way” on July 12 in honor of the heroic FDNY paramedic who served the Coney Island community for 25 years and responded at Ground Zero following the Sept. 11 attacks.
The renaming ceremony, sponsored by Council Member Justin Brannan, paid tribute to Bushey’s lifelong dedication to public service. He served at Engine 40 in Coney Island, where he began in 1996 and continued with distinction until his retirement in 2021.
In 2021, Bushey was diagnosed with World Trade Center-related pancreatic cancer and died in 2023 at age 52. His wife, Mary Ann, and other family members attended the Saturday morning ceremony.
In his remarks, Brannan reflected on Bushey’s deep impact on the community and the lasting legacy he left behind.
“To anyone who knew him, there’s no mystery why we’re doing this. Peter was a New Yorker through and through,” Brannan said. “Peter responded to the unimaginable with selfless and heroic action. Without hesitation, Peter ran towards danger to render aid to New Yorkers in need.”
He reflected on the difficult work Bushey undertook at Ground Zero.
“Peter spent a lot of time at Ground Zero — digging through the wreckage, searching for signs of life, hoping to find signs of life, aiding in local recovery efforts,” Brannan said. “In one of the darkest periods of our city’s history, he helped keep the darkness at bay for just a little longer. He carried the torch high and kept us all out of the dark.”
The renaming was one of 109 local street co-namings approved by the City Council in January to honor individuals who made significant contributions to their communities.
Bushey’s wife, Mary Ann, recalled the “goodness” she saw in him following their first date.
“Peter was different,” she told the crowd on Saturday. “I could see the goodness bestowed within him.”
“From dire emergencies to routine calls to the most everyday neighborly conversations in the supermarket, Peter approached every situation with that same brand of kind and loving selflessness and curiosity,” Brannan added.
