MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (WPIX) – NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller’s wife, Stephanie, delivered a heartfelt eulogy during his funeral Saturday, just days after the cop was fatally shot during a traffic stop in Queens.
“My husband died a hero, but he also lived as one. Our world will never be the same,” she said.
Diller’s 1-year-old son, Ryan, was also at the podium as Stephanie remembered and celebrated her husband.
Stephanie began by thanking everyone for the outpouring of support her family has received.
“With every hug that I’ve received, I just picture that each one is from Jonathan,” she said. “I am so proud that thousands of people across the country are calling Jonathan a hero, but the truth is he has always been a hero to Ryan and me; the rest of the world is just catching up.”
Stephanie said her husband could be mischievous but had the “sweetest heart.”
“He was a connector, the kind of guy who could draw people in and find something in common with everyone — a friend to everyone,” she added.
Diller loved to make everyone laugh and was a good listener, she said.
“It didn’t take long for me to realize how special he was … He made me feel like I was the only person in the room.”
Stephanie said she knew Diller was her soulmate. They could understand each other with a look.
“Anytime I entered a room, I looked for him and knew that the place I belonged was the spot next to him,” she said tearfully. “We had a connection that not many people get to experience in their lifetime.”
Jonathan played many roles, she said, but nothing compared to his best role of all – being a dad.
“I will never forget the look on his face when his son was born … he was so proud of Ryan,” Stephanie said. “He was excited when his first words were ‘dada,’ and I remember I would playfully try to get him to say ‘mama’ instead. But now I never want to stop hearing Ryan saying ‘dada’ to me.”
Speaking of Diller’s death, Stephanie said her husband wouldn’t have sugar-coated it, so neither would she: “This is devastating.”
“This is a devastating, senseless, and tragic loss for so many – our family, our friends, and the City of New York,” she said. “It’s a shame someone who brought so much positivity into the world was given such a negative ending … It breaks my heart that Ryan was robbed of getting to grow up with his dad.”
“It’s hard to imagine how long I have to wait to see Jonathan again. When the doors to heaven open for me one day, I hope to see Jonathan standing there looking at me just like he did on our wedding day,” Stephanie concluded.
NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and New York City Mayor Eric Adams also delivered remarks during the service.
“Today, we mourn his life, reflect on his bravery, remember his sacrifice, and, above all, we stand together united as one,” Adams said. “We mourn Jonathan’s death, and we’ll never forget his sacrifice.”
Diller, 31, was killed in the line of duty while conducting a traffic stop in Queens on Monday. Diller was shot after he and another officer stopped a vehicle that was illegally parked at a bus stop in Far Rockaway, police said.
“He put himself in harm’s way. He went towards the danger, all to keep the people we serve safe and to protect his fellow New Yorkers,” NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban said.
Diller, a member of the NYPD’s Community Response Team, was a three-year veteran of the department.
“Jonathan was an amazing officer with three years on the job. He went out there and did what we asked him to do. He epitomized what the New York City Police Department is all about, the hard work, the sacrifices. And our hearts go out to him and his family,” Caban said.
