Michael Kozma

RAMSEY – It took Michael Kozma nearly four years to complete a song dedicated to a fallen friend.

New York City firefighter, borough native and Kozma’s good friend, Michael Reilly, perished in the line of duty in August 2006, only six weeks after graduating from city’s fire academy.

Kozma performed the acoustic version of the song, "You Had Me at Goodbye," Monday at the music venue The Bitter End in New York City.

The two grew up in the same neighborhood, but didn’t really know each other, said Kozma. While Kozma attended Mercy College in New York, a roommate and mutual friend introduced the two and Reilly later moved in. They lived together for about five months in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. After Reilly’s death Kozma, a practicing musician for 14 years, said he immediately knew he would write a song about him. But, three months later the song he’d written simply didn’t seem good enough for his friend.

"I didn’t think the song would be good enough for someone so heroic," said Kozma, 27, also a borough native. "I put it on the back burner for a long time."

Lyrics suddenly came to him early this fall, and he began revamping the song, which took him two days to complete and is performed with an acoustic guitar.

"It meant a lot, because I got a lot off my chest," he said.

Kozma, who studied music engineering, guitar and piano, said he writes all of his songs and puts a lot time and effort into his music.

Kozma said when he plays "You Had Me at Goodbye" he chokes up, and memories of Reilly walking around in their apartment and the times he came home from the academy pop into his mind.

"Mike was really a genuine guy, and passionate about being a firefighter," he said. "I loved having him move in. Mike was really funny and always laughing about something."

Here’s part of what Kozma’s song had to say:

"This isn’t hello

This feels like goodbye

This isn’t I’ll see you tomorrow

This isn’t me writing goodbye to you

So what am I supposed to do

Now that you’re gone

And now I take every memory

And bury it from the pain"*

Kozma said he has lost more friends over the years, and the song is also dedicated to those who have experienced loss, and is his way of saying he shares their pain.

"This is to pay tribute to Mike, as well as everybody," he said. "I just want people to relate."

More than 10,000 firefighters from the tri-state area attended Reilly’s funeral in Ramsey, including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has spoken to the Reilly family on a number of occasions, said Monica Reilly, Michael’s mother.

"He’s a very nice man, very kind, compassionate and caring," she said.

Monica said her son had been covering for a fellow firefighter when the ground collapsed during a fire at a 99 cents store in the Bronx. Reilly and a Lt. Howard Carpluk died as a result.

"Michael touched a lot of lives, more deeply than I ever knew and I still find out," said Reilly. "Michael’s song is another way of quietly continuing the memory and the legacy."

Reilly said after her son left for his tour of duty in Iraq he said this is goodbye, but she told him there are never any goodbyes.

"I think it’s lovely that Michael did this," she said. "I think the name of the song is very appropriate."

A memorial scholarship was set up in Reilly’s name to benefit the children and siblings of New York City firefighters who are heavily involved in their community and have overcome an obstacle.

There is also an annual marathon in October. Reilly said a fifth-year anniversary memorial is scheduled for Aug. 27 at St. Paul’s Church.

*Lyrics reprinted with permission of Michael Kozma.

Boucicaut@northjersey.com - Barbra Boucicaut The Bergen Record

RAMSEY – It took Michael Kozma nearly four years to complete a song dedicated to a fallen friend.

New York City firefighter, borough native and Kozma’s good friend, Michael Reilly, perished in the line of duty in August 2006, only six weeks after graduating from city’s fire academy.

Kozma performed the acoustic version of the song, "You Had Me at Goodbye," Monday at the music venue The Bitter End in New York City.

The two grew up in the same neighborhood, but didn’t really know each other, said Kozma. While Kozma attended Mercy College in New York, a roommate and mutual friend introduced the two and Reilly later moved in. They lived together for about five months in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. After Reilly’s death Kozma, a practicing musician for 14 years, said he immediately knew he would write a song about him. But, three months later the song he’d written simply didn’t seem good enough for his friend.

"I didn’t think the song would be good enough for someone so heroic," said Kozma, 27, also a borough native. "I put it on the back burner for a long time."

Lyrics suddenly came to him early this fall, and he began revamping the song, which took him two days to complete and is performed with an acoustic guitar.

"It meant a lot, because I got a lot off my chest," he said.

Kozma, who studied music engineering, guitar and piano, said he writes all of his songs and puts a lot time and effort into his music.

Kozma said when he plays "You Had Me at Goodbye" he chokes up, and memories of Reilly walking around in their apartment and the times he came home from the academy pop into his mind.

"Mike was really a genuine guy, and passionate about being a firefighter," he said. "I loved having him move in. Mike was really funny and always laughing about something."

Here’s part of what Kozma’s song had to say:

"This isn’t hello

This feels like goodbye

This isn’t I’ll see you tomorrow

This isn’t me writing goodbye to you

So what am I supposed to do

Now that you’re gone

And now I take every memory

And bury it from the pain"*

Kozma said he has lost more friends over the years, and the song is also dedicated to those who have experienced loss, and is his way of saying he shares their pain.

"This is to pay tribute to Mike, as well as everybody," he said. "I just want people to relate."

More than 10,000 firefighters from the tri-state area attended Reilly’s funeral in Ramsey, including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has spoken to the Reilly family on a number of occasions, said Monica Reilly, Michael’s mother.

"He’s a very nice man, very kind, compassionate and caring," she said.

Monica said her son had been covering for a fellow firefighter when the ground collapsed during a fire at a 99 cents store in the Bronx. Reilly and a Lt. Howard Carpluk died as a result.

"Michael touched a lot of lives, more deeply than I ever knew and I still find out," said Reilly. "Michael’s song is another way of quietly continuing the memory and the legacy."

Reilly said after her son left for his tour of duty in Iraq he said this is goodbye, but she told him there are never any goodbyes.

"I think it’s lovely that Michael did this," she said. "I think the name of the song is very appropriate."

A memorial scholarship was set up in Reilly’s name to benefit the children and siblings of New York City firefighters who are heavily involved in their community and have overcome an obstacle.

There is also an annual marathon in October. Reilly said a fifth-year anniversary memorial is scheduled for Aug. 27 at St. Paul’s Church.

*Lyrics reprinted with permission of Michael Kozma.

Boucicaut@northjersey.com - Barbra Boucicaut The Bergen Record