More than two decades after the September 11 attacks, the widow of Suffolk Deputy Sheriff Richard Stueber will finally receive the disability benefits her husband earned for his service at the World Trade Center site. Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed into law a bill sponsored by Assemblyman Joe DeStefano and co-sponsored by Senator Monica Martinez that restores Stueber’s full accidental disability retirement pension.
Stueber, a 23-year law enforcement veteran from Riverhead who served as both an NYPD officer and Suffolk deputy sheriff, had battled post-traumatic stress disorder after responding to Ground Zero. Though he was accepted into the federal Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Program in 2020 and approved for a 75% accidental disability pension, a technical loophole in state law reduced his benefit to 50% and required repayment of more than $50,000 in overpayments.
Forced to take his regular pension early, Stueber’s financial and emotional strain became overwhelming. He died in 2023 at age 50, leaving behind his wife, Stacie, and four children.
“This bill ensures that his wife receives the support he died waiting for,” DeStefano said. “Richard should never have had to fight for benefits he clearly earned. It sends a clear message: New York does not forget its 9/11 heroes or their families.”
The legislation passed unanimously in the State Assembly and Senate and will be funded with $1 million from Suffolk County, providing long-overdue financial relief to Stueber’s widow and children. DeStefano added that the bill is designed to prevent other 9/11 responders from facing similar legal barriers in the future.
While the new law cannot undo the trauma Stueber endured, his family and supporters say it represents a meaningful recognition of his service and sacrifice.