Long Island, NYC Community Mourns Loss of NYPD Officer Michael Hance

Members of the Long Island community as well as the New York City community are all mourning the recent loss of NYPD officer and Bethpage resident Michael Hance who passed away last week.

Hance died from brain cancer this past Sunday.

The 44-year-old was a proud NYPD officer for 17 years as well as a 9/11 first responder.

In 2015, a video of Hance dancing during the gay pride parade went viral, making him internet famous.

The video also made him famous within the LGBT community. The original video posted on YouTube was viewed over 7.8 million times.

Following his death, the Gay Officers Action League (GOAL) of New York recently launched a fundraiser on behalf of Hance's daughters.

"Although not a member of GOAL NY or the LGBTQ Community, he certainly brought a smile to all of our faces when he danced," the organizers wrote on the fundraiser's page. "We as members and friends of GOAL are starting this fundraiser for his two daughters to be presented at the GOAL Pride Celebration on June 21, 2017."

The campaign has raised over $2,000 as of Thursday.

In addition, a fundraising campaign started on GoFundMe by a local Melville resident before his death raised over $25,000 for his medical bills.

"He is a true family man," Karen Ryan, who created the page, wrote. "His greatest joy is his two daughters."

Hance was diagnosed with cancer in November after his brother, Peter Hance, who lived across the street from him, noticed he collapsed in front of his home, Newsday reports.

He underwent several months of outpatient treatment after a tumor was discovered in his brain and later spread to his vital organs, according to the report.

Last month, after collapsing again he was transported to Plainview Hospital where his conditioned worsened until his death on Sunday, Newsday reports.

“He never made it out,” Peter Hance told Newsday. “We’re a tight family, it’s very difficult.”

Visitation services are scheduled for Thursday and Friday. For more information, click here.

Many took to Twitter to express their condolences. Check out some of the tweets below: