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‘An inspiration, a warrior, a friend’: New York City detective who fought for 9/11 compensation funding dies

  • Luis Alvarez, a leader in the fight for victim’s compensation, died from cancer aged 53 on Saturday
  • Alvarez appeared with former Daily Show host Jon Stewart to plead with Congress to extend the compensation fund

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Retired New York Police Department detective and 9/11 responder Luis Alvarez (L) and former Daily Show Host Jon Stewart are sworn in before testifying during a House Judiciary Committee. Photo: AFP
Associated Press

A former New York City police detective who was a leader in the fight for the Sept. 11 Victims Compensation Fund died Saturday at age 53.

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Detective Luis Alvarez’s death from cancer was announced by Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea, who tweeted that Alvarez was “an inspiration, a warrior, a friend”.

Alvarez appeared with former Daily Show host Jon Stewart earlier this month to plead with Congress to extend the compensation fund.

“This fund isn’t a ticket to paradise, it’s to provide our families with care,” a frail Alvarez told a House Judiciary subcommittee on June 11. He added: “You all said you would never forget. Well, I’m here to make sure that you don’t.”

Retired Fire Department of New York Lieutenant and 9/11 responder Michael O'Connell (L), FealGood Foundation co-founder John Feal (C R) and Jon Stewart (R) speak to Retired New York Police Department detective and 9/11 responder Luis Alvarez. Photo: AFP
Retired Fire Department of New York Lieutenant and 9/11 responder Michael O'Connell (L), FealGood Foundation co-founder John Feal (C R) and Jon Stewart (R) speak to Retired New York Police Department detective and 9/11 responder Luis Alvarez. Photo: AFP
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Alvarez was admitted to a hospice in Rockville Centre on Long Island within a few days of his testimony.

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