Nassau police AMT Steven Linzer dies at 45

Steven Linzer's life was dedicated to the community, as a professional, a volunteer and a family man.

Linzer, a Nassau County Police advanced medical technician, received 16 awards and commendations for his service, including the time he helped officers deliver a New Hyde Park woman's baby in 1997.

When he wasn't on the clock, Linzer was an official in youth hockey and baseball, and volunteered at the Wantagh Fire Department for about a decade.

Linzer died March 16 at Winthrop-University Hospital of a sudden bacterial infection, his son, Daniel Linzer said. He was 45.

"He was a very family-oriented person. He loved kids," said Irene Linzer, his wife of almost 23 years. "He loved to work in the community. He was the kind of person that people liked because he would do anything for anybody."

Before his appointment as a police AMT in November 1994, Linzer held positions as a paramedic, instructor and dispatcher at various hospitals and medical centers in New York City, said Nassau police spokesman Det. Lt. Kevin Smith.

The Levittown resident was a paramedic for Lutheran Medical Center, Staten Island University Hospital, Jamaica Hospital and St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital. He worked as a fire department dispatcher for the city of Long Beach, also working in the Long Beach Hospital 911 call center, and as an instructor at the EMS Institute of St. Vincent's Hospital.

Linzer graduated from Valley Stream North High School in 1984 and attended St. John's University for two years, majoring in medical technology.

"He was a stand-up guy," said Daniel Linzer, 20. "And he was very proud of his job." He said that more recently his father had also been named as part-time hockey director at Newbridge Arena in Bellmore.

Harry Loud, a spokesman for the Wantagh Fire Department, said Linzer was someone who could be counted on for his firefighting prowess and his medical technician skills.

Loud, who described Linzer as a man with a very deep voice and infectious laugh, said, "When it came to his profession, he knew that medical stuff inside and out."

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During his police service Linzer received one medal of commendation, one meritorious service award, six excellent police duty awards, four lifesaving awards and four command recognitions, Smith said.

A Nassau police spokesman said Tuesday the department was so far treating Linzer's death as a line-of-duty death pending an investigation and medical tests to determine if he died from an illness he may have contracted on the job.

Linzer was laid to rest Friday at New Montefiore Cemetery in West Babylon. In addition to his wife and son Daniel, he is survived by his son Matthew, 13, his daughter, Meagan, 17, all of Levittown, and his mother, Rita Linzer of Malverne.