I became a Rider in the annual Ben to the Shore Bike Tour to honor the memory of my high school classmate and friend, Lieutenant Robert P. Neary. Lieutenant Neary was 59 years young when he was tragically killed fighting a Kensington Warehouse fire on April 9‚ 2012. Lieutenant Neary and his team of Philadelphia Firefighters from Ladder 10 were protecting an adjoining furniture store from catching on fire when the Warehouse Building collapsed killing Lieutenant Robert Neary and Firefighter Daniel Sweeney. Robert "Bob" Neary was born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia with his brother and sister. He graduated from Father Judge High School in 1970, excelling in both academics and athletics and a key member of Judge's Varsity Basketball Team. Bob was a proud veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department for 40 years. He enlisted in the US Army Reserves after graduation from high school and served as Philadelphia Police Officer for 3 years before joining the Fire Department.