A retired New Rochelle police detective died Sunday after battling a Sept. 11-related illness.

Mark Gado made numerous trips to Ground Zero to help with search and rescue operations after the terrorist attacks. He died after a long battle with cancer linked to 9/11.

Gado is the second member of the New Rochelle Police Department to die from a 9/11-related illness in the last 30 days. Police officer Kathleen O'Conner died last month.

Studies show volunteers were exposed to toxic contaminants in the air after the towers fell.

Jill Gado was married to Mark for 47 years. She says he was a family man with a heart of gold, which is how he ended up at Ground Zero.

"I remember him calling me the day it happened--when the second plane hit," Jill said. "He was crying on the phone and he said 'I think it's a terrorist attack and I don't know when I'm coming home.'"

Mark volunteered in lower Manhattan for weeks. Less than 10 years later, he faced a cancer diagnosis, eight surgeries and 26 hospital stays.

His family has asked for donations to be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.