GALLOWAY – A Little Egg Harbor man, a vocal advocate of a fund for 9/11 first responders created in his son’s name, was killed in a tragic accident at Bacharach Rehabilitation on Jimmie Leeds Road.
The Galloway Township Police Department released an on-site investigation report detailing the devastating incident leading to the passing of 76-year-old Joseph Zadroga. The unfortunate event unfolded as Zadroga stood outside his parked car and was struck by another vehicle that was pulling into a parking space. The driver, James McNeal, 82, of Absecon, accelerated and hit Zadroga’s car, pinning him underneath his own SUV.
Life-saving measures were attempted on the scene. Zadroga was rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The accident investigation is still ongoing.
Renowned as a retired North Arlington police chief, Zadroga’s legacy extended beyond his distinguished police service career to his unwavering advocacy on behalf of first responders, volunteers, and survivors of 9/11.
The roots of Zadroga’s staunch support for the passage of a fund providing health monitoring and aid were deeply personal. On January 5, 2006, Joseph and Linda Zadroga tragically lost their 34-year-old son, James Zadroga, a dedicated New York City Police Department detective. James succumbed to a respiratory disease attributed to his heroic participation in rescue and recovery operations at the World Trade Center following the September 11 attacks.
A CBS news report titled “Tale of the Walking Dead” shed light on the story of James Zadroga, who dedicated over 450 hours to the disaster site, becoming the first police officer to die from health issues related to Ground Zero.
Just months after the 9/11 tragedy, Zadroga found himself bedridden and reliant on an oxygen tank. He relocated to Florida, where his wife, Ronda, fell victim to a heart ailment and passed away in October 2004 at the age of 29. James came to New Jersey with their daughter Tyler Ann and moved in with his parents. The little girl, who first lost her mother before her second birthday, became orphaned at age four.
Joseph and Linda gave their granddaughter all of their love and guidance while also taking on another mission. They championed the cause that Linda identified as the plight of the “walking dead” – individuals profoundly affected by Ground Zero to the extent that their ability to breathe was severely compromised.
The grief-stricken parents first approached New York state legislators to seek help for others who were in the midst of similar tragedies. Less than a year after their son’s death, then-New York Governor George Pataki signed legislation on August 14, 2006, expanding death benefits to Ground Zero workers who succumbed to cancer or respiratory diseases, presuming that the cause was linked to their exposure during recovery efforts. James was specifically mentioned by Pataki during the bill-signing ceremony, which took place at the World Trade Center site.
At the national level, James Zadroga became the namesake for the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010. A version of the proposed bill was first co-sponsored by Senator Robert Menendez and Representative Carolyn Maloney in 2006 failed. However, a revised version of the bill successfully passed both chambers in 2010 and received President Barack Obama’s signature in early 2011.
The federal legislation allocated funds and instituted a health program aimed at offering medical treatment to responders and survivors who have encountered or may encounter health complications linked to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Of no small consequence, the initial act came with time limits of claims until 2020. And Joseph was back in the fight to see that no one would go out without care. He wasn’t alone in his battle for justice.
Amidst the legislative struggles, Jon Stewart emerged as a formidable ally, using his platform to thrust the Zadroga Act into the spotlight. His advocacy became a signature issue, with a notable episode of “The Daily Show” dedicated to the bill in 2010.
Returning to “The Daily Show” in 2015, Stewart continued to push for the renewal of the Zadroga Act, rallying on Capitol Hill alongside firefighters and union officials. His humor-laden critique of Congress emphasized the urgency of providing care to 9/11 responders, exposing them not only to toxins but also to bureaucratic obstacles. The bill was subsequently reauthorized in 2015 and extended benefits until 2090.
On July 29, 2019, President Donald Trump enacted The Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) (VCF Permanent Authorization Act). This legislation extended the VCF’s claim filing deadline from Dec. 18, 2020, to Oct. 1, 2090, and allocated necessary funds to cover all approved claims.
A few days before, Joseph wrote a social media post about the anticipated bill with a sense of accomplishment.
“Today was a good day,” wrote Joseph. “The bill is extended after eighteen years; our heroes are taken care the long battle is over. Will never forget – 9-11 is a day I wish never happened, but it did, and like many families who lost loved it will never end. The pain and feeling of the loss of a loved one will be with us until we, too, pass and join them.”
Barnegat resident Bill Cox, a retired New York City police officer, said he met Joseph after he retired from NYPD. They became fast friends and played golf together.
“Joseph was a big burley guy and one of the nicest men you could ever meet,” said Cox. “He was always doing for others – always trying to help people.”
In a Facebook post, Benjamin Chevat, the executive director of the Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, called Joseph Zadroga “indispensable to the struggle to get 9/11 responders and survivors the help they needed and deserved from Washington.”
“For years, he personally gave voice to his son, James, and the others still dealing with the impact of the toxins from Ground Zero,” wrote Chevat.
NYC PBA President Patrick Hendry said, “Joseph Zadroga took on a fight that no father should have to face. But he fought for his hero son with incredible courage and helped every single 9/11 responder in the process.”
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