MTA, TWU Local 100 and family unveil memorial at Brooklyn subway station honoring train operator killed in arson fire

Garrett Goble was a Brooklyn native and an MTA train operator who died in March 2020 after an arsonist set fire to a train in Harlem.

News 12 Staff

May 24, 2021, 9:35 PM

Updated 1,072 days ago

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Family and friends gathered for an unveiling of a memorial in honor of a transit worker who died last year while trying to save passengers from a fire.
Garrett Goble was a Brooklyn native and an MTA train operator who died in March 2020 after an arsonist set fire to a train in Harlem.
A memorial was unveiled at Avenue Brooklyn College Station on Monday.
MTA Chairman and CEO Pat Foye says it was fitting to put a memorial for Goble there since it was his home station.
Goble's widow and mother spoke about the 36-year-old, calling him a loving husband, father and son.
Goble worked for the MTA for six years and worked overnights to provide for his loved ones.
He died last March during the height of the pandemic as essential workers continued to work for the city. He was trying to help evacuate passengers from the fiery train.
Goble’s family and friends say his last heroic actions were symbolic of the way he lived.
"Garrett made sure his riders escaped safely, he put his riders first, he saved lives that morning,” says Tony Utano, the president of TWU Local 100. “Even though he could not save himself, I know he tried but he could not make it. He had his wife and his two boys who he loved so fiercely.”
The memorial portrait of Goble was created on the station wall by Brooklyn artist BK Foxx.


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