Some people live their lives not making much difference to the human race, other than perpetuating it. Others depart this world leaving it a better place for their having lived. This is the story of one of the latter.

Lieutenant Laurel Hester (1956 – 2006) was a terminally-ill police officer who fought for the extension of pension benefits to domestic same-sex partners, and won.

Hester, who had been raised by an alcoholic mother, had worked for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office in New Jersey for 23 years when she was diagnosed with lung cancer in the autumn of 2005. Chemotherapy and radiation treatment did not stem the rapidly advancing cancer, which spread to her brain, causing tumours.

Hester knew she was terminally ill, but her thoughts were with her partner of six years, Stacie Andree, with whom she shared a home. The couple had registered as domestic partners on 28 October, 2004. When Hester petitioned the Ocean County authorities to change their policy of not recognizing domestic partners as beneficiaries, she was turned down, and her appeal was supported by the local Policemen's Benefit Association.

Hester spent the final months of her life waging a campaign to have her Police and Firemen's Retirement System benefits granted to her partner because she was worried that without her $13,000 a year police pension, car mechanic Andree would be forced to sell their house in Point Pleasant.

By 9 November, 2005, news of the freeholders' vetoing the appeal had reached the media and the freeholders were being bombarded with phone calls and emails of protest.

We understand the emotion of this, but the legal issue is very clear. It's their [the freeholders'] decision, which is what the law allows. They're obviously reflecting the values of their community.

- John Tomicki of the League of American Families, a state group that opposes domestic partner benefits.

On 23 November there was a rally of between 100 and 200 people who supported Hester's crusade. On 18 January, 2006, the dying police officer videotaped an appeal from her hospital bed, as she was too weak to attend a further meeting of the freeholders in person. On 21 January the freeholders announced that they were reversing their decision, and from 25 January, 2006 they would grant pension benefits to registered domestic partners. The case became a rallying point for gay and lesbian couples across New Jersey for full marriage rights.

Laurel Hester died on 18 February, 2006.

Garden State Equality honoured Lieutenant Hester with its Citizen of Courage award at the end of 2005.

Lieutenant Hester gave a face and a story to our struggle. She was kind, caring, brilliant, charismatic and other-directed. She was a cherished friend, life partner and selfless partner in justice. If we win marriage equality, we will be able to point to Laurel Hester and her partner Stacie Andree as the couple, as much as any other, who made history happen.

- Steven Goldstein, chairman of Garden State Equality.