NYPD 9/11 Hero Passes After Battle with Ovarian Cancer

After her eight-year battle with ovarian cancer, the 9/11 community lost a hero dedicated to protecting the people of New York City, with the passing of NYPD Lieutenant Maureen Gill-Donohue.

Lieutenant Gill-Donohue, of West Brighton, Staten Island, was 57 years old.

After 9/11, Gill-Donohue worked for several months in Lower Manhattan, providing security for the recovery operations there. She later investigated debris from Ground Zero at the Fresh Kills Landfill.

At both locations, Lieutenant Gill-Donohue was exposed to toxins that increase the risk of respiratory illness and 68 different types of cancer, including ovarian cancer.

A native of Bay Ridge, Lieutenant Gill-Donohue joined the NYPD when she was 27 years old, reporting to precincts in Brooklyn and Manhattan before she retired in 2012.

Her survivors include her husband, Thomas Donohue, her children, Samantha, Steven, and Demiann, her mother, Patricia, and her father, James.

Like Lieutenant Gill-Donohue, anyone who worked, lived, or studied in Lower Manhattan on or after 9/11 has a higher risk of developing cancer or respiratory illness.

If you were in Lower Manhattan below Canal Street on 9/11 or during the eight following months, you are eligible to register with the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) – even if you are currently healthy. 

If you were below Houston Street or in parts of western Brooklyn and are diagnosed with a 9/11-related illness, you are eligible to enroll in the free World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program. 

Barasch & McGarry, Lawyers for the 9/11 Community represents more than 35,000 members of the 9/11 community.

If you were exposed to Ground Zero toxins, you should know your health status. 

Visit http://www.911victims.com/ or call 212-385-8000 today.