Retired trooper from Upstate NY dies after battle with 9/11-related cancer

Amsterdam, N.Y. — A trooper from Upstate New York who helped identify victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks has died of an illness related to his service at the World Trade Center.
John L. Carey, a retired senior investigator with the New York State Police, has died of a 9/11-related illness, troopers announced Monday. He was 65 years old.
Carey, of Amsterdam in the Capital Region, was a husband, father and grandfather.
A proud Brooklyn native, Carey spent much of his childhood in Saratoga County, according to his obituary. He attended Eisenhower College in Seneca Falls, where he majored in music and met his future wife, Christine.
Carey graduated from the New York State Police Academy in 1983. He later joined the Troop G Forensic Identification Unit, which he led until he retired in 2014, according to his obituary.
To fight his cancer, Carey had an esophagectomy — a procedure that removes some or all of the esophagus — in August. He never recovered from the surgery, his obituary said, and died Oct. 24 after a long battle.
“John touched so many lives, and will be ferociously missed by so many who knew him,” his family wrote in his obituary. “His legacy has left an indelible impact on the community that was lucky enough to have him as a member.”
The state police are also mourning Carey’s death.
“He devoted his life to protecting the community and his commitment to the New York State Police will always be remembered,” troopers wrote in a statement.
Calling hours for Carey will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church at 39 St. John St. in Amsterdam. His funeral will start at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Amsterdam church and will be followed by a private burial, state police said.