Retired NYPD Lt. Phil Panzarella died Thursday of cancer at Stonybrook Hospital. He was 74.

Panzarella, nicknamed “Sundance,” retired from the department’s Cold Case Squad in 2006 after a 40-year career. He was also a board member of the NYPD’s Columbia Association and Honor Legion.

He spent a good portion of his career in Queens Homicide solving some of the boroughs most infamous murders, including the assassination of police Officer Edward Byrne and the rape and killing of honor student Laura Ann Evelyn.

Panzarella is survived by his wife of 50 years, Margaret, son Sgt. Phil Panzarella of the Cold Case Squad, daughter Angela Lauruska and six grandchildren.

“Phil was an NYPD legend who worked on hundreds of murders while working in Queens, taking many of them personally,” said Judge Gregory Lasak, who worked with Panzarella while he headed the Queens DA Homicide Bureau and is now running for Queens DA.

“He really loved his job and treated many of the cases like the victims were a member of his own family,” Lasak said.

A wake for Panzarella will be held Sunday and Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Moloney Funeral Home, 132 Ronkonkoma Ave., Lake Ronkonkoma, NY. A funeral Mass will take place Tuesday at St. Sylvester’s Church in Medford, NY. Burial will be at the Calverton National Cemetery.