'A Force of Nature': Former NYPD Officer Dies of 9/11-Related Illness
Source Officer.com News
An NYPD officer died earlier this month from a 9/11-related illness he contracted while working at ground zero in New York City following the 2001 attacks.
Clarence E. Word III, 53, had been deployed by the agency to help with rescue and recovery operations in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, his obituary stated. Since that time, Word was diagnosed with cancer stemming from the deployment, and he died Oct. 1 in Apollo Beach, Florida.
"His indomitable spirit and infectious smile will be profoundly missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known him," the obituary stated. "Clay was a man who embraced life with fervor and determination."
"His fight against 9/11 related cancer exemplified his resilience and became an inspiration to many," added the obituary.
Born in the Bronx, Word served with the NYPD for two decades, rising to the rank of detective, second grade. When he moved to Florida, he became a deputy with the Osceola County Sheriff's Office and eventually worked as a school guardian in Manatee County.
"His career in law enforcement was more than a job; it was a calling that he answered every day with honor and distinction," the obituary stated.
Word is survived by his wife, two children, his mother and three siblings.
"His legacy is not merely in the deeds he accomplished but in the lives he uplifted and the love he spread. … He moved through the world as a force of nature—unstoppable in his desire to improve the lives around him and unwavering in his commitment to justice and kindness," stated the obituary.
