Boston firefighters, family members urge committee to advance survivor benefits for Matt Troy amid occupational-cancer concerns

Boston firefighters, union representatives and a family member of the late Boston firefighter Matthew “Matt” Troy told the Joint Committee on Public Service that Troy’s widow remains ineligible for survivor benefits because of a technical timing issue in existing rules — and urged the committee to advance home-rule and statutory fixes.

An unnamed family member, appearing on behalf of Troy’s wife Rachel and the firefighter’s family, said Troy’s cancer diagnosis occurred four months short of the time threshold required to trigger presumptive occupational-cancer benefits, leaving his widow without the benefits the family would otherwise have received. “I respectfully ask the Commonwealth and his elected leadership, etch Matt’s name into law. Please give Matt the legacy he deserves and give his family the benefits that they have earned,” the family member said during testimony.

The testimony put a human face on data presented by union legislative representatives. Randy Greeley, legislative agent for Boston Firefighters Local 7 18, described an increase in cancer deaths among firefighters and said Troy died in June 2024 at age 32. “Since February, a hundred and 52 of our members has succumbed to cancer that were aged 25 to 40,” Greeley told the committee, summarizing union-collected counts and urging swift action on pending legislation.

Paul Jacques, legislative agent for the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, said unions support a package of measures, including a home-rule petition and state bills aimed at ensuring survivor benefits and addressing presumptive coverage for occupational cancers. “We just wanna go on the record for that and also, support our brothers from Boston Firefighters Local 7 18, go on the record in support of Senate Bill 2,574,” Jacques said.

Representative Hunt and Senator Nick Collins both testified they had filed or co-filed home-rule petitions to provide accidental-death benefits for Troy’s surviving spouse. Representative Hunt said the home-rule petition had unanimous approval by the Boston City Council and described the eligibility gap as the result of a “clerical technical error” that prevented Troy’s status from being changed while he was ill. “What this bill would do would be to ensure that his widow is eligible for all of those benefits,” Hunt said.

Committee chairs acknowledged the testimony and asked union and legislative representatives to remain in contact while staff and members work through technical and administrative issues. No formal committee vote on the bills occurred during the hearing.

Clarifying details recorded during testimony included that Troy’s date of diagnosis — not date of death — fell roughly four months short of the five-year threshold many pension/presumption rules use for occupational presumptions; unions described concern that younger firefighters delay early-detection measures out of fear it could affect eligibility; and unions reiterated prior work to replace contaminated bunker gear and pass PFAS-related equipment standards.

The committee did not take final action on the bills during the hearing; committee members asked witnesses to provide additional materials and to stay in contact about any administrative hurdles with the governor’s office or pension/retirement boards. The hearing concluded with a routine motion to adjourn.