Ex-Levittown Fire Department Captain Dies Of 9/11 Illness

LEVITTOWN, NY — Scott "Brutus" Johnston, a former Levittown fire captain and NYPD sergeant, has died of an illness stemming from the 9/11 attacks. He was 50.

Johnston, of Levittown, was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma nearly two years ago, the state's Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 69 wrote in a Facebook post. He died Thursday.

Johnston is survived by his wife, Kristin; seven children, Olivia, Hannah, Kaeley, Amelia, Molly, Rebecca, and Natalie; mother, JudyAnn; sisters Cynthia Young (Daniel) and Alicia Post; mother-in-law Maureen Smith, father-in-law James Smith, and sisters-in-law Shannon Giudice (Matt) and Kerrianne Mosher (Joel).

Johnston was an NYPD sergeant in the strategic response group and a 9/11 first responder. He was also a dedicated former captain of the Levittown Fire Department's Ladder 6 and member for over 30 years.

Family received friends Saturday and Sunday at the Levittown Fire Department's station 3 on North Wantagh Avenue. Fire department services were held Sunday night in Class A uniform.

A mass of Christian burial was planned Monday afternoon at St. James Catholic Church in Seaford.

Friends and family members took to social media to remember Johnston. Many called him a hero.

"So true: A Hero never dies," one poster wrote.

Another wrote: "Because of Hero's (sic) like Sergeant Scott Johnston we can never forget 9/11. Thank you for your service just doesn't seem to be enough. May he R.I.P. "