Cancer Claimed Life Of Bergen Cop, 56

David L. Kurz, a decorated Army combat veteran and Fort Lee police officer, died of cancer.

Kurz died Tuesday. He was 56, his obituary states.

Kurz trained the Fort Lee Police Department's officers, was an instructor and assistant team leader with the department's Emergency Services Unit, an original member of the Honor Guard and an emergency medical technician.

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He was recognized for merit 12 times, received two citations for valor, two Meritorious Service Awards and was a master operator with the Emergency Services Unit, Police Chief Keith M. Bendul said in the obituary.

Kurz grew up in Leonia. He earned a political science degree from Northeastern University in 1984.

Kurz was a decorated Army combat veteran. He was sergeant with the 82nd Airborne Combat Infantry, Heavy Antiarmor Weapons. He served in Operation Just Cause in Panama and in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield, receiving the Kuwait Liberation Medal). He also received the Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Service Star and the National Defense Service Medal.

Subsequent to his military service, Kurz was graduated from the New York City Transit Police Academy in 1993 and was an officer for Metro North before serving with the Fort Lee Police Department for 24 years.

Kurz's interests were diverse. He performed with the Player's Guild of Leonia and became a dedicated practitioner of martial arts, developing an expertise in Aikido. He earned the rank of second-degree black belt and, through his merits, teaching and mentoring, was promoted to a third-degree black belt posthumously. He was exemplary in his interaction with students, the obituary states.

He was predeceased by his father David.

He is survived by his mother Janie, sister Nancy, brother Jeffrey, sons Ryan and Nick, daughter Michele and grandchildren Charles, Alexandrea and Payton.

A funeral service will be at Frank Patti Funeral Home in Fort Lee Monday at 11 a.m.

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Photo: Officer David Kurz — Courtesy of Fort Lee Fire Department