NYPD officer and 9/11 first responder who went viral after twerking at Gay Pride dies of cancer age 44

  • NYPD officer Michael Hance died on Sunday of brain cancer which had spread to his lungs, liver, and chest
  • He became a viral sensation after twerking at the 2015 Gay Pride Parade
  • The dedicated officer was part of the bucket brigade at the World Trade Center after the 9/11 terrorist attack 

By Kiri Blakeley For Dailymail.com

Published: 22:04 EDT, 14 March 2017 | Updated: 09:05 EDT, 15 March 2017

NYPD officer Michael Hance, who made headlines after a video of him twerking at a Gay Pride parade went viral, has died at the age of 44.

Hance, from the 111th precinct, in Queens, worked at the Ground Zero bucket brigade in the aftermath of the terrorist attack at the World Trade Center. He died on Sunday of 9/11-related cancer, reported the New York Daily News. 

In November, he grew dizzy and fell in front of his Bethpage, Long Island home. He was diagnosed with brain cancer, which spread to his lungs, liver, and chest, said the outlet.

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NYPD police officer Michael Hance died Sunday of cancer, he was first diagnosed in November

NYPD police officer Michael Hance died Sunday of cancer, he was first diagnosed in November

Hance went viral when he was videotaped boogieing with a reveler at the Gay Pride parade in 2015

Hance went viral when he was videotaped boogieing with a reveler at the Gay Pride parade in 2015

Hance good-naturedly accepted a kiss from Aaron Santis after twerking to Michael Jackson

Hance good-naturedly accepted a kiss from Aaron Santis after twerking to Michael Jackson

'He loved being a cop,' older brother Peter Hance told the outlet. 'It was in his blood.'

Hance was divorced and had two children, Kaitlyn, 12, and Jenna, 10.

'Those two daughters were his life. They're going through a rough time right now,' Hance said. 

He was also engaged to a woman only identified as Melanie on his obituary. 

He wasn't gay, but his gleeful dancing while on duty at the 2015 Gay Pride Parade to Michael Jackson's 'Don't Stop Til You Get Enough' earned him kudos from the gay community.

'He was straight and still having fun,' said Paige Ponzeka, who took the video, which has been viewed almost eight million times on YouTube
Hance had some fun twerking with Aaron Santis

'He was straight and still having fun,' said Paige Ponzeka, who took the video, which has been viewed almost eight million times on YouTube

Santis was appreciative of Hance's attitude
Said Brian Downey, president of the NYPD's Gay Officer's Action league: '[He] represented the true spirit of the police family'

Santis was appreciative of Hance's attitude. Said Brian Downey, president of the NYPD's Gay Officer's Action league: '[He] represented the true spirit of the police family'

'I was as impressed as I was happy,' Brian Downey, the president of the NYPD's Gay Officer's Action League told the outlet. 'He isn't a member of GOAL or the LGBT community, but we were elated to see that video. It represented the true spirit of the police family. That's what 99.5% of cops are like.'

Aaron Santis was marching at the parade Big Apple Softball League, an LGBT sports group, when he began doing the popular twerk dance near the cop. Hance joined right in.

Hance was a 9/11 first responder
He worked the long, grueling and acrid-smoke filled hours down at the WTC after the terrorist attack

Hance was a 9/11 first responder and worked the long, grueling and acrid-smoke filled hours down at the WTC after the terrorist attack

The video has been viewed almost eight million times on YouTube.

'Aaron had danced in front of a lot of cops but they were not as responsive. Then we saw this officer get into it. (Hance) understood what the parade was about - about having fun and being yourself,' said Paige Ponzeka, who recorded the moment on video. 'That was the best part … that he was straight and was still having fun at the parade.'

'That's just who he was,' his brother told the outlet. 'He was definitely a people person. He has like eight million friends.'

On March 7, the family created a fund to help with medical expenses. 

 

 

 

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