Mother of iron worker, 25, killed in bridge fall mourns son's loss

Walter F. Lenkowski III died in a June 5 fall from while working on the Delair Bridge.

PENNSAUKEN TWP. -- When a police officer or firefighter is killed in the line of duty, everybody knows. But nobody hears a thing when an iron worker dies.

Walter F. Lenkowski III wasn't trying to be disrespectful; he just believed his brethren who spend all day towering above us flew too far under the radar. And it took a tragic twist of fate to test his theory -- one he told his mother about mere days before his fatal on-the-job plunge from the Delair Bridge.

Walter F. Lenkowski III stands in Camden with the Ben Franklin Bridge in the background in this provided photo. Lenkowski was killed on the job when he fell from the Delair Bridge, in Pennsauken, on June 5, 2016. (Photo provided)photo provided 

"People don't realize how much they are needed," Marie Lenkowski said Tuesday, 16 days after her son's death triggered by a hydraulic lift explosion that threw the fourth generation iron worker more than 100 feet from the steel railroad span to the ground below.

Lenkowski, 25, was a soon-to-be father and Clearview Regional High School honors student who graduated in 2009 and played football as well as wrestled while there.

The Delair Bridge, which crosses the Delaware River between Pennsauken and Philadelphia, first opened in 1890. The type of work being conducted earlier this month remains unclear.

In an emailed statement, Conrail public affairs Director Jocelyn Hill said the railroad company's "thoughts and sympathies are with the victim of this tragic incident and his family."

"First responders, including law enforcement responded to the incident, and Conrail is fully cooperating with their investigation," Hill said.

Marie Lenkowski, seated in a shaded living room and accompanied by poster boards overflowing with photos of her late son, spoke of a young man who loved surfing and was saving up to buy a jet ski.

Stopping short of saying the incident was swept under the rug, Lenkowski said her son's union has been the only group to reach out. She just wishes more had been done in the minutes, hours -- and now weeks -- since her son's death. 

Cornell Crane and Steel, the contracting company Lenkowski was working for at the time of his death, did not return a request for comment. Nor did his union, Ironworkers Local #399, which has established a trust fund for Lenkowski's unborn daughter he was to have with girlfriend Christina Dwyer.

"He just wanted the iron workers to be recognized for all they do. Their all-day life is a risk," Marie Lenkowski said. "'Walter, make sure you tie off. Be careful,'" she used to tell him. "Don't count on other people for safety."

Marie Lenkowski's younger son was supposed to take his iron worker apprenticeship test this week.

"But he decided to hold off a year and maybe reconsider."