Traffic & Transit
Hero Conductor Among 96 MTA Workers To Die From Coronavirus
MTA conductor Benjamin Shaeffer died from COVID-19 complications in Brooklyn's Maimonides Hospital, according to his union.
NEW YORK CITY — A heroic conductor who once rescued passengers from a subway arsonist is one of 96 MTA workers to die from new coronavirus, according to his union and Metropolitan Transit Authority officials.
Benjamin Schaeffer died Tuesday at Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn, where his coworkers flocked in the days before his death to donate plasma, according to the Transit Worker Union 100. He was 58.
Schaeffer is survived by both his parents, who helped organize the plasma drive for their dying and ventilated son, said Eric Loegel, Rapid Transit Operations Vice President.
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"Everybody was pulling for them," said Loegel. "Every loss this year has been tough, but this one hits a certain way."
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Schaeffer, a 23-year MTA veteran, was best known for his advocacy as a TWU officer — which earned his colleagues the right to take a day of work for religious observance — and the day he rescued a subway car full of passengers in 2018.
"I had to act fast," Schaeffer told NBC News. "No pleasantries. No courtesy. It's an emergency situation, just get outta the car."
Friends and family took to Twitter to share memories of Shaeffer.
We remember Ben Schaeffer as the conductor of the Transit Museum's Nostalgia Train to Coney Island where he would visit our exhibition center. Our condolences to his family and his fellow TWU Local 100 members.
— Coney Island History (@ConeyHistory) April 29, 2020
I'm Ben's girlfriend of 10 yrs. He took me to the NY Transit Museum on our 3rd date and gave me a detailed personal tour. We spent many good times on nostalgia trains and buses, train yards, and riding his own train. He loved his city. Thanks for remembering someone I love.
— smidbeach (@smidbeach) April 29, 2020
Chairman and CEO Pat Foye said Wednesday 96 MTA workers have died from COVID-19 since the outbreak first began.
"We mourn and grieve every one," said Foye.
This news comes as the MTA faces increasing pressure from Albany and New York City Hall to better clean and disinfect subway cars Gov. Andrew Cuomo has called disgusting.
The MTA — which currently disinfects subway cars every 72 hours — plans to release plans Thursday to enhance its cleaning system.
"I agree with the governor, we need to be doing more," said Sarah Feinberg, the New York City Transit interim president. "If I had an unlimited workforce ... we'd be disinfecting every couple of hours. "
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