Hackensack firefighter dies of 9/11 cancer; death will be ‘on duty’, officials say

A longtime Hackensack firefighter died Saturday morning of cancer contracted while assisting other firefighters at Ground Zero after the September 11 attacks, friends, family and firefighters said.

Early Saturday morning, Rich Kubler, 53, died of stage 4 liver cancer he contracted after responding to the September 11 attacks, the Hackensack Fire Department said. With the Hackensack Fire Department for more than 20 years, Kubler took early retirement due to illness last fall, said Rob Burgos, his longtime friend and fellow Hackensack firefighter.

Although Kubler has retired, his death will be considered a death in the line of duty, the fire department said. Kubler is survived by his wife Susan, his daughter Lauren, both parents and several siblings, said Rob Kubler, his older brother.

Kubler started with the Hackensack Fire Department in January 1998, said Burgos, who joined the service the same day. The two became fast friends, going through nine weeks of training before being assigned to the city’s fire companies, Burgos said. The two worked intermittently in the same fire companies, always preceding or following each other’s shifts, he said.

Burgos, who is still a firefighter in Hackensack, remembers a friend who went out of his way to help those around him.

“Richie was the kind of guy who, if he had five bucks in his pocket and you needed 10, would give you his five bucks and borrow five more so you had 10,” Burgos said. “He was that kind of guy. He was always ready to help. Always ready to offer himself for whatever you needed.

Raised in Hasbrouck Heights, Kubler’s bravery and selflessness were always apparent growing up, Rob Kubler said. Along with his older brother, Rich Kubler helped care for their cancer-stricken grandmother, helping feed her and taking her for walks, a grandson under each arm. Kubler once broke up a bar fight, disarming a knife-wielding man before using a submission hold to knock him unconscious, his brother said.

Kubler was thoughtful enough to roll the mugger’s coat into a makeshift pillow and tuck it under his head, his brother recalled.

“He was a hero for almost 7 or 8 years,” said Kubler, 56.

The desire to become a firefighter started in high school for Kubler, but grew out of an innate desire to be of service, his older brother said. In addition to serving with the Hackensack Fire Department, Kubler volunteered with the Hasbrouck Heights Fire Department, Kubler said.

On Sept. 11, 2001, when Kubler heard about the 9/11 attacks, he didn’t hesitate to rush to Ground Zero, ready to help survivors and fellow first responders, his brother said.

“In fact, a couple of our volunteer firefighters told him not to go to 9/11 because they felt it was dangerous,” Rob Kubler said. “He and 11 or 12 other firefighters from Hackensack went anyway because they wanted to get survivors out and hoped there were New York firefighters, policemen or victims they could save.”

For years after volunteering to search for survivors amid the rubble, Kubler rushed through burning houses and worked at his family’s power company, Kubler Electric, without missing a step. declared his brother and Burgos. It wasn’t until last October that he showed signs of slowing down, Burgos said.

In October, on what would be his last firefighting shift, Kubler returned home early after falling ill, Burgos recalled. Around the same time, Kubler called his older brother and told him to meet him at the hospital, fearing he had bronchitis, Rob Kubler said.

“He actually didn’t know anything about 9/11 until last October,” Kubler said. “He was going 110%. Fight against fires. Helping people.”

After undergoing a slew of tests, Kubler learned the devastating news: he had stage 4 cancer and only had weeks to live.

“It blew our minds,” said Rob Kubler.

But Kubler exceeded his prognosis and, for the last months of his life, he lived the life he had long dreamed of, his brother and Burgos said. In keeping with his father’s passion – one he passed on to his son – Kubler found and bought a house in Maine where he would go boating, another of his passions.

Kubler died shortly after 4 a.m. Saturday, surrounded by his family, Burgos said.

Burgos had always hoped to start his firefighting career alongside his friend and end it the same way. Although those plans are now scuttled, Burgos will always be remembered as the friend he could always count on.

“Richie was supporting you,” Burgos said. “Richie was an amazing firefighter.”

Kubler is one of thousands of first responders who volunteered at Ground Zero and were diagnosed with lung and respiratory illnesses, as well as other illnesses. He is the latest of around 100 people who died after inhaling toxic fumes while sifting through the rubble of the Twin Towers.

Last year, Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill that made New Jersey first responders who volunteered at Ground Zero right to an accidental disability pension.

A church service is scheduled for Friday, followed by a full funeral procession on Saturday, both in Maine, Kubler and Burgos said. The time and place have not yet been announced.

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Rodrigo Torrejon can be reached at [email protected].