Charles Humphries, 1964 rooftop hero, dies

Charles Humphries of East Northport, a longtime city cop and National Guardsman who made headlines in 1964 with his daring rooftop helicopter rescue of trapped factory workers, has died. He was 78.

The cause of death was cancer and he died at a hospice care facility in Melville, said one of his children, Neal Humphries of East Northport.

Humphries' illness was discovered only within the past few months, his son said. In early May, the elder Humphries cut an acre of grass and went to requalify for his pistol permit. He felt fatigued and soon afterward was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

In the 1964 rescue, Humphries, then serving part-time in the New York Army National Guard, swooped in minutes before the Long Island City factory roof caved in. Then 32 and living in Baldwin, he used the downdraft of his chopper blades to cut through the smoke to pluck two men from the roof. He made two trips to the factory -- his aircraft held only one passenger -- to rescue the men, who were coughing and had tears in their eyes from the fire.

In his later years, the elder Humphries went on to run a popular aviation company on Long Island based at Long Island MacArthur Airport.

In short, Humphries loved flying -- whether teaching or flying himself.

"He loved the freedom of it," Neal Humphries said. "He loved to introduce people to this line of work -- whether it was a seasoned person who knew everything or a green guy right off the street, the passion was the same."

Charles John Humphries was born on Sept. 25, 1932, in Long Island City to Michael Humphries and the former Marcella McNamara. He attended public school and later joined the military.

In 1948, he entered the New York Army National Guard and served for 43 years. Humphries, who was a chief warrant officer and instructor pilot in the Guard, was awarded the distinguished flying cross and state medal of valor for the 1964 rescue, his son said.

He was also a decorated New York City Police Department officer who left the job after 20 years in 1975. Assignments included special operations in Ozone Park, Queens, and aviation in Brooklyn.

After retiring from the NYPD, he ran the aviation company Metro Air of Ronkonkoma, which serviced helicopters and airplanes, taught flying and provided air taxi services.

He is also survived by his wife of 49 years, the former Renate Müeller; his other children, Dale Humphries, of Sound Beach, Dara Humphries, of Buford, Ga., and Glynis Humphries, of Smithtown; and two grandchildren, Trevor and Trent. Other survivors include his sisters, Mary Jones of South Bend, Ind., Joan Daly of St. James, Cecilia Barger of Bricktown, N.J.; and his brother, Vincent Humphries, of Wimauma, Fla.

Visitation will be Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at Brueggemann Funeral Home in East Northport. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the New Apostolic Church in Saint James.

The family asked that donations in Humphries' honor be sent to the Hospice Inn, where Humphries spent the last days of his life: 70 Pinelawn Rd., Melville, NY 11747-3106.