Coronavirus lives lost

We have lost thousands of New Yorkers since the virus first hit our city. These are our neighbors, friends, colleagues, parents and grandparents. New Yorkers from all walks of life -- first responders, mail carriers, educators, artists, chefs and servers. Here are just a few of their many stories.

Thirty-Year Veteran of FDNY Dies of COVID-19

BY Spectrum News Staff

The FDNY is mourning the death of the first active-duty firefighter from complications with COVID-19.

Sixty-one-year-old Firefighter Joseph Ferrugia was a 30-year veteran of the department, joining in 1990.

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Beloved Photojournalist Known for Documenting Asian Americans Dies From COVID-19

BY Lori Chung

For fifty years, Corky Lee used his camera to capture the spirit and history of the city's Asian-American community, giving a voice to a community too often unrepresented.

"If he could be everywhere, he could,” said Shirley Ng, a longtime friend. "If if there was five of him, he'd be at all these events documenting the Asian-American experience."

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Queens Mother of COVID-19 Victim Mourns Loss of Only Child

BY Ron Lee

Although it's hard for some to believe, we are quickly approaching the one year anniversary since the coronavirus pandemic changed our lives forever.

For one mother in Queens who lost her only child to COVID-19 last April, the first of anniversary of her daughter's death has her cherishing every memory of their relationship.

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Pauline Delgado, Mom to Everyone She Knew, Dies of Coronavirus

BY Debora Fougere

Pauline Delgado was born to be a mom. She had three children of her own, Robert, Jennifer and Stephanie, and became a kind of surrogate mom to all her kids’ friends.

“All our friends would come to her for comfort,” her daughter Stephanie Ortiz said. “They always said she’s like a second mom to me."

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Thelma Estevez Came to New York and Found the Love of Her Life. Together, They Lived the American Dream.

BY Debora Fougere

Thelma Estevez was in her mid-30s when she took a big leap of faith, leaving her home in the Dominican Republic for a new life in New York City. She found a home in West Harlem and a job as a hair stylist. It wouldn’t be long before her life changed again.

“She came into my dad’s electronics store to buy a television,” her only son, Jose, said. “That was it.”

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Queens Teen Loses Both Parents to COVID-19 in One Month

BY Clodagh McGowan

QUEENS, N.Y. - Seventeen year-old Roberto Tobias Jr. thinks a lot about his parents these days. His mom, Loida, was a nurse at Harlem Hospital.

“She was such a small woman, but she managed to accomplish so many trials and so many feats,” said Tobias.

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Coronavirus Cases Increasing Among Young Adult New Yorkers, Mayor Says

BY Kathleen Culliton

NEW YORK — Novel coronavirus cases are increasing among younger New Yorkers in their 20s, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday.

City residents between the ages of 20 and 29 saw COVID-19 rates rise in June — as Black Lives Matter protesters took to the streets and the economy began reopening — from less than 30 per 100,000 to a number nearing 40 per 100,000, de Blasio said.

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Coronavirus Claims Life of Staten Island LGBT Advocate

BY Amanda Farinacci

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - It is hard to talk about Staten Island's LGBT community without talking about Jim Smith.

"Many people will view his legacy as an openly gay man; the godfather of gay pride, of gay rights on Staten Island, but that was just the tip of the iceberg," said Matt Titone, a longtime friend.

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Broadway Star Nick Cordero Dies After Long Battle with Coronavirus

BY Frank DiLella

After more than three months of battling COVID-19, Broadway actor Nick Cordero died on Sunday in Los Angeles at the age of 41. Our Frank DiLella takes a look back at the performer’s career.

From his Tony nominated turn as a tap dancing gangster in “Bullets Over Broadway” to his most recent appearance as Sonny in “A Bronx Tale,” Nick Cordero was a Broadway favorite.

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Charles Simmons, Who Loved His Family, Harlem and Boxing, Dies of Coronavirus

BY Debora Fougere

He may have moved to Brooklyn, but there’s no doubt that Charles Simmons’ heart belonged to Harlem. His daughter, Fatimah, calls him one of the neighborhood’s “unsung legends.”

“He was kind of like an unheard-of legend in the Harlem community,” his daughter said. “The things he was involved with, the people he knew in Harlem, it was his go-to. He traveled through Harlem and people recognized him.”

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Her Family's "Information Lady,’ Rozella McFarlan, Dies of Coronavirus

BY Debora Fougere

Ask anyone who knew her, and they’ll tell you Rozella McFarlan lived to help others. Her sister, Jacqueline, said she was the one the family turned to when they needed answers.

“We used to call her the information lady, the 4-1-1,” Jacqueline McFarlan said. “Any time we wanted to know about anybody or anything, we would call her. If she didn’t know, she would find out. She was really curious. Everyone would agree on that.”

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Lives Lost: Saying Goodbye, Part Four

BY Spectrum News NY1

The growing death toll from COVID-19 is a daunting figure. But it’s important to remember–especially during these turbulent times and the rough days ahead–that those who’ve died are fellow New Yorkers with lives and families.

This story is a part of a series called “Lives Lost,” which aims to honor the victims of the coronavirus pandemic in New York City. You can watch the full episode in the video above and learn more about the neighbors we lost here.

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Lives Lost: Heroes on the Frontlines

BY Spectrum News Staff

The growing death toll from COVID-19 is a daunting figure. But it’s important to remember–especially during these turbulent times and the rough days ahead–that those who’ve died are fellow New Yorker’s with lives and families.

This story is a part of a series called “Lives Lost” aiming to honor the victims of the coronavirus pandemic in New York City. In this episode we highlight the lives of people on the frontlines of the pandemic--police, firefighters, EMTs and doctors. You can watch the full episode in the video above and learn more about the neighbors we lost here.

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World Trade Center Cancer Survivor Dies From Coronavirus

BY Ruschell Boone

QUEENS, N.Y. - Jim Christoforou was 67 when he died from the coronavirus, but he still had a lot of living to do after surviving head and neck cancer in 2005 - the result, he believed, of being covered with dust when the World Trade Center collapsed.

"He had that fight. He wanted to live. He wanted life and he was able to beat stage four cancer and we were hoping that this time around he was still going to have that fight, and I know he did, but this was a little different. Unfortunately," said Maria Christoforou, his daughter.

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St. Luke's Episcopal Church in the Bronx Has Lost 21 Members to Coronavirus

BY Amy Yensi

There is no shortage of volunteers at St. Luke's Church in the Bronx. It's the largest parish in the city’s Episcopal diocese. The need in this community is great. Since the pandemic began, the food pantry line stretches three blocks. The soup kitchen has more visitors than ever.

Father Pierre Andre Duvert said his congregation is eager to help, especially because it knows the pain this health crisis is causing. Twenty-one of its members have died from the coronavirus. “When it hits home, that’s when we understand,” said Duvert.

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Brooklyn Doctor Dies After Refusing to Retire. He Wanted to Continue Treating Coronavirus Patients.

BY Ruschell Boone

Dr. James Mahoney was a popular physician and teacher at the University Hospital of Brooklyn. His dedication to the job never wavered, even as the coronavirus took hold in New York City. Friends and family urged him to retire, but the 62-year-old refused.

"He would have none of it," said Dr. Robert Foronjy, the Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Medicine at the University Hospital of Brooklyn. "He would be the last person to tap out ... He was working days, he was working nights, and he made a big difference in the care that patients were receiving."

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Lives Lost: Saying Goodbye, Part Two

BY Spectrum News Staff

NEW YORK - The growing death toll from COVID-19 is a daunting figure. But it’s important to remember–especially during these turbulent times and the rough days ahead–that those who’ve died are fellow New Yorker’s with lives and families.

This story is part of a series called “Lives Lost” aiming to honor the victims of the coronavirus pandemic in New York City. You can watch the full episode in the video above and learn more about the neighbors we lost here.

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Retired Hospital Police Captain Daniel Matias Dies From Coronavirus

BY Ruschell Boone

“I refuse to accept that he's gone even though I know he is. It's a piece of me that is no longer here,” said brother, Joe Matias.

Daniel Matias' family is in a state of disbelief. They say he was just beginning a new chapter in his life when he fell ill and died from the coronavirus. Matias had been a captain with the New York City Health and Hospitals Police when he retired not long ago.

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WWII Purple Heart Recipient Dies After Testing Positive for Coronavirus

BY Ruschell Boone

William Costello was a reluctant hero. His family said the WWII veteran rarely spoke about the war, even though he received a Purple Heart and several medals for his bravery, but it’s a big part of his legacy. The 95 year old died at a nursing home after testing positive for the coronavirus.

“He always felt that the other men who he was in the army with, who didn’t survive, were the real heroes,” his daughter Lynda Stewart said.

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Mom, Grandmother and Special Needs Teacher Janee Christensen Dies From Coronavirus

BY Debora Fougere

Janee Christensen was a stay-at-home mom until the younger of her two daughters went off to school. She went to work as a special ed paraprofessional for the New York City Board of Education. Her older daughter, Sharon Rico, said that is where she found her calling.

“She went back to school nights and weekends”, Rico said. “She worked so hard, and got her master's degree in psychology and sociology, with a minor in education. She graduated with honors.”

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Robert Papik, Who Sacrificed His Health to Feed First Responders After 9/11, Dies of Coronavirus

BY Debora Fougere

Robert Papik was working for a catering company when the planes struck the Twin Towers on 9/11. He was sent to Ground Zero to help feed first responders and stayed there, day and night, as the search for survivors, and then for remains, continued.

His sister, Lisa Miele, said, despite the dangerous conditions, he wouldn’t have been anywhere else. “Even if he knew he was risking his life,” she said, “he wanted to make sure everyone had everything they needed. That’s the type of person he was.”

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Daughter Says Mother Who Died of Coronavirus “Fought Really Hard”

BY Ruschell Boone

Olga Anchumbia had a lovely way about her. She was kind, positive and always ready with a smile, even in tough situations. Her daughter said she also had a fighting spirit that she'll never forget. Both were hospitalized with the coronavirus.

“She was just great. Just a great, great, mom,” said Grace Ortiz, daughter of Anchumbia.

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Brooklyn Man Who Was a Fixture in Boerum Hill Dies from COVID-19

BY Ruschell Boone

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - He couldn't walk and rarely left his apartment, but Juan Vazquez was well known and well liked by his neighbors and friends in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. Since his death, many have been leaving flowers and candles outside the apartment window where he greeted them everyday before he fell ill.

"He was just special to all of us. We are devastated beyond words with his loss," said Flor Betancourt, Vazquez's sister.

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Lives Lost: Saying Goodbye

BY Spectrum News Staff

The growing death toll from COVID-19 is a daunting figure. But it’s important to remember–especially during these turbulent times and the rough days ahead–that those who’ve died are fellow New Yorker’s with lives and families.

Here we feature just a few of our neighbors who’ve left us. For their full stories head over to our Lives Lost series.

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Jimmy Glenn, Boxing Legend and Popular Bar Owner, Dies From Coronavirus

BY Ruschell Boone

Jimmy Glenn was one of boxing's most beloved figures. He had a career that spanned more than 70 years as an amateur boxer and trainer, but on Thursday fans got the crushing news from his son Adam that the longtime fighter had died from COVID-19.

“After over a month battling coronavirus his body, his reserves, were just depleted and he couldn't keep fighting it,” said Adam Glenn.

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Queens Civic Leader Jules Taylor Jr. Dies From Coronavirus

BY Ruschell Boone

“It's too soon. It's too soon. We, not only did he have plans, we had plans. We had plans and you look up and tomorrow is not promised and now I wear his wedding ring around my neck,” said wife Emmlynn Taylor.

Saying goodbye to her husband of almost 19 years is one of the hardest things Emmlynn Taylor has ever done. He was her friend, companion and traveling partner.

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Mother of 13 and Survivor of Domestic Violence, Rosa Serrano Succumbs to Coronavirus

BY Debora Fougere

Rosa Serrano’s story is truly a profile in courage. Married at just 13 years old, she left her native Puerto Rico for The Bronx with two daughters in tow. Carmen was five and Iris was just two.

84-year old Serrano was admitted to Mt. Sinai in late March, suffering from symptoms of COVID-19. She passed away two weeks later, on April 10th. But she wasn’t alone. Her daughter, Carmen Ruiz, who has lung cancer and was hit hard by the virus, was in the next bed.

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Author, Artist, Poet, Songwriter: Scott Zwiren Led a Creative if Troubled Life Before He Succumbed to Coronavirus

BY Debora Fougere

Scott Zwiren was, according to Michele Emanuele, who knew him since the fifth grade, a creative genius. “He was an incredible genius,” she said, “and I just want the world to know he existed. He was part of the art department, he wrote for the school paper, he was always in plays.”

Zwiren and Emanuele lost touch when they went off to different high schools and his life took a terrible turn after he completed the film program at NYU. The life-long Brooklynite began an unending battle with mental illness, suffering severe bouts of depression. When he was 23, he attempted suicide, twice, the second time by jumping in front of a 1 train. But he seemed to channel his demons into his work.

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A Doctor Mourns For His Mother While Fighting Coronavirus

BY Roger Clark

Dr. John Buccellato has spent a lifetime helping people as an emergency room physician and, after his retirement, working for City MD Urgent Care Centers.

He was just days away from a planned trip to his winter home in Naples, Florida, when he started feeling the symptoms of coronavirus. He had met with countless patients with those symptoms in March as the virus started spreading throughout the city. Despite taking every precaution, he wound up at Mount Sinai Hospital himself.

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Staten Island Amazon Warehouse Worker Dies From Coronavirus

BY Patrick Adcroft

A worker from Amazon's Staten Island fulfillment center has died from coronavirus, Amazon has confirmed to NY1. This is the first coronavirus-related death at Amazon's Staten Island facility.

This comes after Amazon has seen mounting pressure from their workers to better protect them from COVID-19. As reported by NY1’s Amanda Farinacci, one Amazon worker was fired after organizing a COVID-19 walkout — though Amazon disputes the reason for the employee’s dismissal.

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Carlos Arturo Quintero, Longtime Queens Resident, Remembered for the Joy He Brought to Everyone, Dies of Coronavirus

BY Debora Fougere

Carlos Arturo Quintero moved to Woodside, Queens when he was just a teenager. He never left the borough. In fact, he would live in the same apartment for the rest of his life, first with his mother, then with his wife, Marlene, his daughter, Nayibe and his granddaughter, Giselle.

His niece, Diana Quintanilla, said he was a man who brought joy to everyone around him.

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Holocaust Survivor Set to Celebrate 100th Birthday Dies From Coronavirus

BY Ruschell Boone

Klara Weisz was a powerful force. A Holocaust survivor who never took no for an answer and always quick with a comeback — even at 99 years old — Weisz was set to turn 100 in June. Her family says she was looking forward to her party, when she suddenly got sick and died.

“She almost made it, if it wasn't for the coronavirus,” said daughter Erika Feder. “We would have had this wonderful party to celebrate her life.”

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Holocaust Heroine Lillian Eckstein Dies of Coronavirus

BY Ruschell Boone

Lillian Eckstein was strong, determined and fiercely independent. Her motto was, no matter what happens in life there is always a way to make things work, and she always did. Her family said she was one tough cookie, even after she contracted the coronavirus.

“That same strength is what got her through Auschwitz. That same strength is what got her through life,” said daughter, Marilyn Levi.

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Veteran MTA Conductor and Hero Dies From Coronavirus

BY Ruschell Boone

NEW YORK - Benjamin Schaeffer was passionate about trains. He loved taking pictures of them, riding the subway system, and working for the MTA. It was a job the 22-year veteran conductor took seriously right up until the end. Schaeffer died from coronavirus at Maimonides Hospital Tuesday, a day after his 58th birthday.

"Ben had the age to retire, but he didn't have the years yet. He had a couple more years to go before he retired and...to be so close to the finish line," said Erik Garces, Benjamin's friend.

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Much-Loved Grandfather Who Immigrated to NY Dies of Coronavirus

BY Debora Fougere

Gabriel de Jesus Marin Serna wasn't a young man when he packed up his family and moved to New York in 2004, but he believed they would find a better life here than in his native Colombia. He certainly found a happy one.

His grandson, Mauricio Serna, remembers his abuelito's joy.

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Final Farewell Held For Trailblazing Woman and NYPD Officer Mollie Gustine

BY Dean Meminger

An NYPD officer played Taps as officers from Queens and the NYPD Ceremonial Unit paid final respects to a trailblazing woman.

Mollie Gustine joined the NYPD back in 1963 at a time when there were very few African-American women on the police force. She eventually became a detective and one of the first women to be a union delegate for officers and detectives.

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Bronx Family Mourns Death of One of the City's Youngest COVID-19 Victims

BY Ruschell Boone

BRONX, N.Y. - Her time on this earth was short, but the impact little Jay-Natalie La Santa had on her family was tremendous. She was the boss, and she had everyone, including her grandmother, wrapped around her little finger. “She was a smiley little baby. She was wonderful. She was the most precious thing that God gave us,” said Wanda La Santa, Jay-Natalie's grandmother. Jay-Natalie hated tummy time, but she loved her rattle, taking pictures and listening to music. All memories Wanda La Santa wanted to share of the little girl who was born with a heart condition. Jay-Natalie was a week shy of 5 months old when she died of complications from coronavirus.

“The first 16 days in the hospital she was awake. She was fighting it. She was very feisty. Her temperature kept going up and down. Up and down. They wanted to induce her into a coma to make her rest so her body can heal. As the days went by she kept getting better. We had our high hopes for her and that night, one minute to the other everything just went downhill and the baby went into cardiac arrest. Jay-Natalie was in the hospital for a month. It was a heartbreaking goodbye for her grandmother, who lives in co-op city, and her mother and father, a New York City firefighter who lives in the Bedford Park in the Bronx. “They are devastated. It was their first child and it has been an uphill battle,” said La Santa. But they are not fighting it alone. “The community from the hospital, the community from the fire department have been so, so helpful,” said La Santa. The family is also getting financial support through this online fundraising campaign on Go Fund Me. Jay-Natalie is scheduled to be buried on May 2nd.

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City Loses Idris Bey, Eighth Active FDNY Member to Die from Coronavirus

BY Ruschell Boone

Funny, charismatic and to the point. That is how many in the Fire Department are remembering Idris Bey, the beloved EMT instructor who died this week from COVID-19. He spent nearly 20 years teaching emergency medical care to his fellow EMT's and firefighters at the Fort Totten Academy.

"Idris Bey was the type of person that would take anything, simple things, and would turn it into something that had you laughing," said FDNY Lieutenant Loycent Gordon.

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Exclusive: Queens Family Searches for Answers After Loved One Dies Inside Nursing Home

BY Amy Yensi

The family of Petros Michaels, also known as Peter, has a lot of questions about his final moments. The 81 year old died at the New York Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Astoria, Queens. They claim the facility did not tell them the severity of his illness, until it was too late.

“One of the nurses says, 'Your grandfather is doing fine, but he has a fever and we are giving him medication for the fever,'” said Petros Demetriou, Michaels’ grandson. Petros, who shares his name grandfather’s name, is speaking out only to NY1.

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Bronx Mourns Loss of Two Legendary Restaurant Owners to Coronavirus

BY Amy Yensi

The culinary world in the Bronx is in mourning, after two long-time restaurant owners passed away due to coronavirus complications. As our Amy Yensi writes, now their loved ones are hoping to keep their recipes and legacies alive.

Their restaurants serve different cuisines, in different parts of the Bronx. Still, Joseph Migliucci and Jose Torres have something in common. They made their mark on the borough’s food scene, before losing their battles against COIVD-19, more commonly referred to as the new coronavirus.

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Gil Torres, a Single Father from Staten Island, Dies from COVID-19

BY Ruschell Boone

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - He was a hardworking man with a big heart. That is how Gilbert Torres Jr. is being remembered by family and friends who were forever changed by his kindness.

"He was my hero and he made me want to be a hero everyday. Do a good deed every day," said David Ramos, his son.

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Veronica Jimenez, Student Who Wanted to Help Those Dealing with Substance Abuse, Dies of Coronavirus

BY Debora Fougere

Veronica Jimenez lived to take care of others.

She was raised in Queens, and lived in Whitestone while she worked part time at a women's outreach center in Brentwood, Long Island. She was also close to earning a Master's degree in psychology and mental health. She was set to graduate in June. Her plan was to pursue her Ph.D. and become a certified drug counselor, maybe open her own clinic.

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Reggae Radio 'Godfather' Gil Bailey Dies from Coronavirus

BY Ruschell Boone

NEW YORK - Gil Bailey was a legendary broadcaster on Caribbean radio for more than half a century.

For many Caribbean-American New Yorkers he was the voice they listened to for news, culture and music from the islands. He also focused on issues that affected the tri-state community.

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Remembering a Friend Taken By the Coronavirus

BY Roger Clark

Standing on a corner in Washington Heights years ago preparing to report on something for NY1 (honestly, I don’t remember what), I was approached by a woman who simply but vivaciously said, "Hi Roger." I took a closer look and realized it was Jen Arnold, who I chatted with on Facebook. Over the years, we met in person a few more times and discussed segments I had done, plus music and other topics.

A few weeks ago, I was shocked and saddened to receive a message from a mutual friend that Jen had died, succumbing to the coronavirus. I would like to tell you her story, because she was able to jam so much life into her 68 years on the planet.

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NY Knicks 'Superfan' Dies From Coronavirus

BY Ruschell Boone

For Fred Klein, cheering on his favorite team in his favorite city was one of the biggest highlights of his life. He was a courtside fixture at Madison Square Garden for more than half a century, rooting for the Knicks in good times and in bad, and even after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

He loved it. It was his passion. His hobby,” said Fred’s son Robert Klein. “He would always go an hour and a half early before tip-off just to be there. He wouldn't leave. He wouldn't leave until the final buzzer.”

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St. Barnabas Surgeon Dies From Coronavirus Complications

BY Lydia Hu

Dr. J. Ronald Verrier, 59, director of the division of general surgery at St. Barnabas Hospital, died from complications of the coronavirus Wednesday, according to family. He is survived by his wife and three children.

“He loved being a surgeon, he loved family, he loved music, he was always smiling,” said Dr. Christina Pardo, a relative.

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24-Year-Old Loved Technology, Robert George Andrews Dies From Coronavirus

BY Debora Fougere

Growing up with his mom, first in Brooklyn, then in Queens, Robert George Andrews loved reaching out to new friends. “He literally had a heart of gold,” said his dad, Torin Reid, a writer and 28-year NYC subway motorman. “He was willing to be a loyal friend to anyone.”

He was only 24 years old, but he suffered from asthma throughout his brief life. When he contracted coronavirus, it hit him hard. He was admitted to Jamaica Hospital on March 27th. Three days later, he died.

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Queens Grandparents Die From Coronavirus 5 Days Apart

BY Lydia Hu

Anthony and Rosemary Terio’s home in Jackson Heights, Queens, is where the couple's large family and many friends always gathered for holidays and celebrations for nearly 50 years. But on Wednesday afternoon, they gathered instead to mourn Anthony and Rosemary - victims of the coronavirus.

“You know they were together for 65 years,” said daughter Lisa Terio-Heath. “Whenever either one of them got sick, the other one somehow got the strength to take care of the other.”

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Queens ER Clerk Dies From Coronavirus

BY Lydia Hu

34-year-old Prea Nankieshore died Sunday from the coronavirus. The emergency room clerk had worked at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills Hospital since 2013.

“I asked her to stay home and she said the hospitals are getting overcrowded, doctors are working extra hard, and she feels that if she stays home, that she will be letting everyone down and she needs to go and do her part to help in any way possible.” said her fiancé Marcus Khan.

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First City Jail Inmate Dies from Coronavirus

BY Spectrum News Staff

NEW YORK - A inmate who tested positive for coronavirus died Sunday at Bellevue Hospital - the first detainee from a city jail to succumb to the virus.

According to the Legal Aid Society, Michael Tyson was on Rikers Island for a technical parole violation.

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Judy Richheimer: Coronavirus Victim Remembered as Fierce NYC Preservationist

BY Debora Fougere

Those who have protested against higher rents, or to preserve New York City’s architecture and heritage, likely crossed paths with Judy Richheimer.

A resident of Chelsea for more than 40 years — she was often quoted as saying, “I was Chelsea before Chelsea was cool” — she was an officer of the local Democratic Club, and a staunch preservationist.

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Teacher at PS 9 in Prospect Heights Dies of Coronavirus

BY Jillian Jorgensen

Sandra Santos-Vizcaino was a leader in dual language education, a longtime teacher beloved not just by her own family but by scores of children she taught over a 25-year career.

And now the public school system is mourning her as the first teacher to die from the new coronavirus.

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Elmhurst Hospital Worker Planning to Retire Dies From Coronavirus

BY Ruschell Boone

QUEENS, N.Y. - If you had a problem, Priscilla Carrow was a person to lean on. She was an advocate for her co-workers at Elmhurst Hospital and a staunch community activist, but that voice was silenced after Carrow lost her battle with COVID-19.

Her sudden death is a devastating blow to her closest friends.

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Beloved Queens Assistant Principal Dies from Coronavirus

BY Clodagh McGowan

For the students and staff at the Mary Louis Academy, Joseph Lewinger was their biggest cheerleader and the heart of the private all-girl’s school in Jamaica Estates, Queens.

“Everybody loved him. Everybody just filtered to him because he was such a positive energy,” said Jenny Limberg Durkin, an art teacher at the Mary Louis Academy.

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Thomas Carney, Guardian of the City's Fashionistas, Dies of Coronavirus

BY Debora Fougere

Tommy Carney wasn’t a designer or a stylist. He didn’t do hair and makeup or walk the runway. But he was as much a part of New York Fashion Week as anyone who sat in the front row or stood on the photographers’ riser.

Tommy was part of the security team from Citadel, the black-suited guardians who make sure the lines are orderly, the venues, from backstage to front-of-house, are secure and that the poseurs never make their way into the shows. From Bryant Park to Lincoln Center, Skylight to Pier 59, Tommy’s big smile was the first thing many fashionistas would see as they descended, en masse, on “the shows.” And he was there, season after season, for 25 years and 5,000 runways.

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Lorena Borjas, Beloved Transgender Activist, Dies From Coronavirus

BY Ruschell Boone

QUEENS, N.Y. - Lorena Borjas was a tireless leader, who spent 25 years fighting for transgender rights, but for many in the community she was more than an activist.

"She was like a mother to me. She was like a mother figure to many many LGBT individuals in Queens, in New York City and in the nation in general. She was like an idol and such an incredible role model that we are all shaken," said Cecilia Gentili, a friend of Borjas.

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Brooklyn Priest Dies From Coronavirus

BY Lydia Hu

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Blanca Pena arrived at St. Brigid’s Church in Wyckoff Heights, Brooklyn around 8 a.m. Sunday. Though the church closed as part of the response to stop the spread of the coronavirus, she visited with hopes of seeing Father Jorge Ortiz-Garay.

But sadly, she learned instead that Father Jorge, as he is known to parishioners, passed away Friday from complications due of the COVID-19.

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LOCAL RESOURCES
Symptoms

The 2019 novel coronavirus may cause mild to severe respiratory symptoms like:

  • cough
  • fever
  • trouble breathing and
  • pneumonia

The CDC believes symptoms may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus.

(Source: NYS DOH)

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