begin quote from: 500,000 have died from Covid in the US
500,000 LIVES LOST
In just over a year, Covid-19 has claimed more than half a million US lives. That’s more than the number of Americans killed in World War II.
The victims span every age group and corner of the country. And each left an indelible legacy. Here, families share their favorite memories of the loved ones they’ve lost.Published February 22, 2021The order of profiles changes each time this page is visited or refreshed.
David Michael Domina
73, Frankfort, New York
His nickname was “Grandpa ‘Grumpy’ Dave,” a term of endearment for a man who loved being a grandpa. Rain or shine, David Domina cheered on the sidelines of his grandsons’ games or volunteered at the concession stand so parents could watch their children play. A devoted father of two daughters and a man of deep faith, Domina loved nature walks and reading his bible. “His presence is missed immensely in our home,” says Holly Yardley, Domina’s daughter.
Submitted by: Holly Yardley (daughter)
Benjamin Robert Hirschmann
24, Fraser, Michigan
“He was a life force. He loved God, his country and was full of compassion. He helped the elderly, loved children and loved to dance. He lit up every room he walked into.”
Submitted by: Denise Hirschmann (mother)
Miguel and Daniel Moran
56 and 23, Long Island, New York
The night Miguel Moran died from complications of the coronavirus, his 23-year-old son, Daniel Moran, said a bedside prayer at St. Joseph Hospital. Eight days later, Daniel himself was dead from the disease. Father and son were buried together. Reina Garay says she and her husband had been married for 35 years. “He was a loving, Christian man.” Daniel was president of the youth group of his Pentecostal church on Long Island. Mercedes Moran said of her father and brother: “They brought us so much happiness.”
Submitted by: Reina Garay and Mercedes Moran
Daniel Zane
94, Haverford, Pennsylvania
Daniel Zane was a World War II veteran who once dashed across an open field in the midst of enemy fire to administer first aid to a fellow soldier. He died just two days after the passing of his wife, Valerie Zane, who suffered from Parkinson's disease and dementia. They had been married for 71 years.
Submitted by: Robin Zane (daughter)
Ramon Roman
52, Brooklyn, New York
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He loved merengue music and volunteering
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The world should know it will not be the same without Ramon Roman.
Submitted by: Ricardo Roman (son)
John Breier
64, San Fernando Valley, California
John Breier had multiple sclerosis, and had been fighting pneumonia and a bacterial infection in the last few months of his life. His son, Everett, talked to John a day before he died. The only thing he could hear John say was his name, “Everett.” The rest was too hard to understand.
Submitted by: Everett Breier (son)
Elder Jeremy Montford
50, Columbus, Mississippi
“[He] was a selfless man of God. He shared God's words throughout the community ... Pastor Montford always had a smile on his face and left a kind word in our hearts.”
Submitted by: April Montford (wife)
Elizabeth Lombardi
65, Brookhaven, New York
Elizabeth Lombardi loved being with her family. Her daughter had an illness called pulmonary hypertension. "They were in and out of hospitals, staying weeks at a time," Cathy Lambrianidis says. "My sister would sleep on a chair and never left her daughter's side."
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She was 'fierce'
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She was always planning for the next event, the next meal, the next get together.
Submitted by: Cathy Lambrianidis (sister)
Dr. Reza Shah Towfiqur Rahman Chowdhury
58, Long Island, New York
Dr. Reza Chowdhury’s kids, Nikita and Nabil, remember their dad bringing home gifts — cologne and t-shirts — from his patients. He would always wear them. “He was very appreciative of what he had, always,” Nabil says.
Submitted by: Nikita Rahman & Nabil Chowdhury (children)
Jose Leopoldo Procel Yepez
73, Guayaquil, Ecuador
Jose Leopoldo Procel Yepez was a dedicated father, grandfather and partner to his girlfriend. Christine Procel-Cohen says her father was a true people person who would strike up a conversation with anyone. “He just made you feel important — even a total stranger,” she says.
Submitted by: Christine Procel-Cohen (daughter)
Ruth Lorras
80, Queens, New York
“My mother was feisty, yet sweet, and despite her 4'10" stature, her strength was unmatched and her heart was larger than all others,” writes Manny Lorras. More than 40 years ago Ruth Lorras tragically lost two of her children on Easter Sunday. She passed away on Easter Sunday this year from complications related to Covid-19.
Submitted by: Manny Lorras (son)
Angela White
56, Cable, Ohio
Angela White was "destined" to be the mother of four girls, sewing them amazing clothes. "She taught me many things about cooking, baking and sewing. She had a strong level of patience that I appreciated as her younger sister," Hope Kay says. "What I’ve heard in her passing is she was kind of a mom to so many people. ... In adulthood she became one of my best friends, confidant, cheerleader and anything a mom would be.”
Submitted by: Hope Kay (sister)
James W. “Chucky” Means Jr.
73, Las Vegas, Nevada
James W. “Chucky” Means Jr. was a man who loved to eat. “We would work out just so we could eat,” his son, Craig Means, jokes. Fried pork chops and dry fried ribs were James’ favorites. He was also a good listener. “He never really gave advice,” Craig says. “He just let you figure it out and led you to where you needed to be.”
Submitted by: Minda Means (wife) and Craig Means (son)
Gerard Bartuch
86, Melrose Park, Illinois
Gerard Bartuch served in WWII, was a lover of all-things Disney, and comforted everyone with his contagious laugh. Gerard’s grandson Anthony Pasquini writes, “If God had a mold for what human beings should be, he based it off of Gerard Bartuch.”
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Never fazed
Playing fair and playing nice ... that was how he lived his life.
Submitted by: Anthony Pasquini (grandson)
Alfredo and Susana Pabatao
64 and 68, Palisades Park, New Jersey
They were health care workers who had been married for 44 years. Susana Pabatao was admitted to the hospital four days after her husband Alfredo Pabatao. The two died in their individual hospital rooms just a few days apart.
Submitted by: Sheryl Pabatao (daughter)
Michael Ortiz
48, Kenilworth, New Jersey
Michael Ortiz had been battling multiple myeloma since 2012. His wife, Bonnie Ortiz, says one of the things she’ll miss most is driving to work together every morning. “My husband Michael was taken way too soon,” Bonnie says. “He was one of a kind … the best husband, father, brother, son and friend. His main goal in life was to make people happy and he never let his disease get in the way. He taught everyone that you can overcome any obstacle that life throws at you, and still find the positive in every situation.”
Submitted by: Bonnie Ortiz (wife)
John “Jack” Hennigan
72, Brooklyn, New York
John “Jack” Hennigan, a retired NYPD officer, loved his native Brooklyn. Known as the “Mayor of 63rd Street,” Jack was beloved by his neighbors and his family. He survived the Vietnam War, suffering lung damage as a result of Agent Orange, but he was unable to win his fight against Covid-19.
Submitted by: Karen Hennigan (daughter)
Robert Lee Byars
64, Inkster, Michigan
Maudie Abraham will remember her brother, Robert Lee Byars, for his big brimmed hats and fancy shoes. “I guess you can say he was the cool one in the family,” Abraham says. He was a “level-headed guy” and a handyman. The last time Abraham saw him he came by in his dump truck to bring dirt for her flowerbed.
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He was smiling down on us
What's really strange is that next morning the sun was really bright.
Submitted by: Maudie Abraham (sister)
Mervin Alfredo Maxwell-Kennedy Sr.
78, Brooklyn, New York
“Pura Vida” (Pure Life) was a favorite saying of Mervin Maxwell-Kennedy Sr., who everyone called “Gato.” Gato was born in Limon, Costa Rica, and had six children, 14 grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. (Photos courtesy of Steven Small-Warner)
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A man of love, service, laughter and God
Everything was Pura Vida. He was just a happy person.
Submitted by: The Maxwell Family
Dr. Fred E. Haggerty
88, Greencastle, Indiana
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An Eagle Scout, an Air Force officer and a doctor
It didn't matter what it was or who it was, or what they had to talk about, he would listen.
Submitted by: Fred Haggerty Jr. (son)
Ron Golden
56, Goodlettsville, Tennessee
“To many, he'll be a statistic: Tennessee's second Covid-related death. But I'll remember a loving older brother, uncle, father and husband.”
Submitted by: Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (sister)
Guy Tetro
50, Rutherford, New Jersey
Gary Tetro describes his brother, Guy, as a loving soul with a wacky sense of humor. "My brother's first concern was me," Gary says. "It was always about his brothers." Guy was passionate about music and played bass in a rock band called Precious Bones. He loved Dungeons and Dragons and founded the North Jersey Geeks and Nerds group.
Submitted by: Gary Tetro (brother)
Kious Jordan Kelly
48, New York City, New York
Kious Jordan Kelly was an assistant nurse manager at Mt. Sinai Hospital. "He was amazing," his sister Marya Sherron says. "Anyone that knew him, his smile, everything about him, spoke for itself.” Kelly, who suffered from asthma, tested positive for Covid-19 on March 18. "I found out he was sick and in the ICU at the same time," Sherron says. Kelly texted his sister, saying he couldn't talk because he wasn't able to breathe. "I love you, going back to sleep," Kelly texted. It was the last text message his sister received from him.
Submitted by: Marya Sherron (sister)
Ward H. Harlow Jr.
86, West Springfield, Massachusetts
Ward Harlow was a kind and gentle man who loved his family deeply, his daughter-in-law, Christine Harlow-Harris, says. He was a former elementary school teacher and a chess master, and he loved pitching horseshoes. “He believed in treating everyone with kindness and love no matter who they were.”
Submitted by: Christine Harlow-Harris (daughter-in-law)
Sheree Mounts-Beckwith
65, Leesburg, Georgia
Two funerals turned the small town of Albany, Georgia, into a Covid-19 hot spot. Anitra Foster-Beckwith’s in-laws went to church with several people who attended the funerals. “They became sick all at the same time,” Anitra says of her family. They thought it was the flu, but her sister-in-law ended up with double pneumonia and was admitted into the hospital first. In the next two days, her father- and mother-in-law were also admitted. Sheree Mounts-Beckwith passed away on March 23. “Our family is forever changed by this tragedy,” Anitra says. She’s worried about her husband now, who traveled to Georgia to care for his family.
Submitted by: Anitra Foster-Beckwith (daughter-in-law)
William Stone
76, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
William Stone loved his family, his friends, his church and the Pittsburgh Steelers. “He wasn’t a very materialistic person -- simple things meant a lot to him,” Mary Stone says of her husband of 41 years. “I will miss everything about him, but I will carry him in my heart forever.”
Submitted by: Mary Stone (wife) and Rahkia Stone (daughter)
Joe Lewinger
42, Garden City South, New York
Maura Lewinger says her husband, Joe, wrote her love letters every morning and left them in her lunch box. In his final moments, doctors held the teacher’s phone over him as she played their wedding song.
Submitted by: Maura Lewinger (wife)
Nagjija Gjidija
72, New York, New York
Nagjija Gjidija and her husband fled the Balkans in the 1970s and emigrated to the US, where their daughter Liria Gjidija says they “epitomized the American Dream.” The couple had four children, and in November last year they celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. On April 1, 2020, Nagjija died of cardiac arrest following a coronavirus diagnosis. “We were the light of her life, as she was ours, but there was no one she loved more than my dad,” Liria says. “They never spent a day without one another.”
Submitted by: Liria Gjidija (daughter)
Isidro Mindiolaza
74, Woodside, New York
Isidro Mindiolaza worked as a porter for an apartment building on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. His son, Marcelo Martinez, says his dad died too soon. “My dad still had a lot to offer. He contributed to Social Security, to his union, to his pension, and he never got to enjoy it.”
Submitted by: Marcelo Martinez (son)
Conrad Buchanan
39, Fort Myers, Florida
Conrad Buchanan was a vivacious DJ who loved dancing with his daughter, Skye. But on March 14, the 39-year-old started feeling sick. He was admitted to the hospital on March 22, and his family never got the chance to say goodbye.
Submitted by: Nicole Buchanan (wife)
Islam Uddin Khan
65, Huntington, New York
Islam Uddin Khan is survived by his wife, six children and seven grandchildren. Originally from India, he came to the US from Pakistan in 1993 to build a better life for his family. "He was very loving," his daughter, Rija Khan, says. "He was a good leader, a role model — a patriarch of the family. He liked to bring people together. (He was) never negative, always optimistic.”
Submitted by: Rija Khan (daughter)
Valentina Blackhorse
28, Kayenta, Arizona
Valentina Blackhorse was the middle of three sisters. She began entering pageants at a young age and won her first pageant in 2003. She went on to win Miss Western Navajo, Miss Monument Valley High School and Miss Diné College. "She did everything she could for family," her sister Vanielle Blackhorse says. "When my parents would struggle financially or emotionally, or any type of struggle -- she was there.”
Submitted by: Vanielle Blackhorse (sister)
Joseph R. LaMarche
87, Worcester, Massachusetts
Joseph R. LaMarche was an active churchgoer and a father of five, including two sets of identical twins. His daughter, Cheryl Kemp, describes him as an avid hobbyist. He loved the ocean, gardening, fly-tying and making his own furniture. “He was just creative and loving,” Kemp says. “A real teddy bear of a man.”
Submitted by: Cheryl Kemp (daughter)
Alan Hirshman
89, New York, New York
Alan Hirshman was “always fighting for the underdog,” his daughter, Alison Brettschneider, says. Yet “he didn’t miss a thing.” Hirshman danced at Alison’s bat mitzvah, walked her down the aisle at her wedding, and was at the hospital when both her children were born.
He had five kids, eight grandkids and a great-granddaughter.
Submitted by: Alison Brettschneider (daughter)
Allan F. Seebach Jr.
62, Tappan, New York
Allan F. Seebach, Jr. was a member of the Tappan Fire Department for 44 years. Several years ago, Seebach fulfilled his dream of opening a model train store in his hometown called The Old & Weary Car Shop. On his “final ride” through Tappan, a vintage fire truck carried Seebach’s casket to the cemetery behind the house where he grew up. As they turned in, the gates came down and a train went right by. “Everybody got out of their cars, thinking that was him telling everybody he was OK,” Laurie Buchtmann, his former wife, says.
Submitted by: Laurie Buchtmann (former wife)
Mary and George Schneider
91 and 88, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mary and George Schneider were married for 63 years and passed away within three days of each other. “They were so close,” their daughter Marylee Sauder says. “I couldn’t imagine one living without the other.” Mary and George were active community members, and took great joy attending the orchestra and watching their beloved Phillies. Above all, they loved their family, and they shared their love as pillars of the First Presbyterian Church.
Submitted by: Marylee Sauder (daughter)
Bernice Greene
65, Jersey City, New Jersey
Bernice Greene loved giving back, her family and education. “She made people feel loved. She really listened to people and gave good wisdom,” says her daughter, Lindsey Greene-Upshaw. “She was always looking for good in people and always saw their potential.”
Submitted by: Kim Greene (husband), Lindsey Greene-Upshaw and Kyra Greene (daughters)
Blanca Estela and Juan Manuel Rodriguez
67 and 67, San Diego, California
Rodriguez Family
Blanca Estela and Juan Manuel Rodriguez became a couple in high school. Covid-19 took Blanca first and about three hours later, her soulmate Juan joined her. It was hours after one last family video call. The couple was together for about 50 years, their children said in a phone call, all four of them jumping in to share stories about their parents.
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Their love was legendary
They were lovebirds. They were always together, cuddling, holding hands.
Robin Greenfield
66, Queens, New York
Robin Greenfield rose through the ranks of the New York City Department of Education, where she worked for 36 years. “I want the world to know how many people she helped, worked under, and influenced,” said her husband Larry Greenfield. “She was also a wonderful wife to me. She was always in my corner.”
Submitted by: Larry Greenfield (husband) and Joshua Greenfield (son)
Timothy “Olan” Montgomery
56, Queens, New York
“The world just lost a little bit of color,” says Tom Montgomery, Olan’s identical twin brother. Olan started doing hair and makeup for fashion shoots, then began a photography business, before becoming a pop-artist and finally transitioning into acting. He was featured in "Stranger Things," "Boardwalk Empire," and "The Roads Not Taken." Friends and family remember Olan for his creativity, compassion, generosity and zest for life. “He followed his heart in everything,” says his friend, Jennifer Tealey. “He really left this world on top of the world.”
Submitted by: Tom Montgomery (twin) and Jennifer Tealey (friend)
Rev. Jorge Ortiz-Garay
49, Brooklyn, New York
“Father Jorge was a great priest, beloved by the Mexican people and a tireless worker for all of the faithful in Brooklyn and Queens.”
Submitted by: Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio
Varsenik “Vi” Morse
93, Dearborn, Michigan
Varsenik “Vi” Morse was known to her family as “Ma,” “Grandma,” and “Grandma Great.” She had 12 kids, 37 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. “Eventually we had to use a hall for our Christmas parties,” her granddaughter Lisa Rader says. Morse loved bowling and playing slots at the casino. She always had an open-door policy: “She took in so many people and family friends that didn’t have a place to stay, even though she already had a full house,” Rader says.
Submitted by: Lisa Rader (granddaughter)
Geraldine Slaughter
84, Detroit, Michigan
Three sisters in Detroit passed away within a couple weeks of each other. Geraldine Slaughter was 86 years old and succumbed to Covid-19 soon after testing positive. Her two sisters, Ruth Webb, 89, and Janie Giger, 94, were also tested but passed away before getting the results. The sisters’ daughters say they were loving members of a tight-knit family and had long, fruitful lives.
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Three daughters remember their moms
People would always say, 'That is the most pleasant looking little lady.'
Submitted by: Cheryl Matthews (daughter)
Dr. Guido Volcovici
79, Tuckahoe, New York
Dr. Guido Volcovici was larger than life. Born during an earthquake in Romania, he defected to the United States in 1969. A lover of people, food and movies, whenever Guido told stories in his thick Romanian accent, a small crowd would gather. He practiced medicine for over 50 years, working until a few months before he succumbed to Covid-19. “He loved being a doctor, but he really loved being a grandfather,” his daughter Valerie said.
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A great storyteller
It wasn't so much about the stories ... He really just wanted to connect.
Submitted by: Valerie Volcovici (daughter)
Dr. Frank Gabrin
60, New York City
Dr. Frank Gabrin devoted his career to saving others. He was the first known emergency physician to die of Covid-19 in the US. Gabrin passed away in his husband's arms. He wrote several books and created a website to help emergency doctors and nurses cope with burnout.
Benjamin Bush Jr.
42, Farmingdale, New York
Benjamin Bush Jr. was a father of four and a football coach for the Farmingdale Hawks. “His whole aura and smile brightened up any place he went and anyone he came in contact with,” his wife of 17 years, Angela Bush, said.
Submitted by: Angela Bush (wife)
Francesca Porco
72, Fort Lee, New Jersey
Francesca Porco loved to cook and be in the company of family and friends. “She loved the old traditions,” her son Dominic says. She also loved to dance. Her family remembers her as a kind and generous woman who could break out a mean tango.
Submitted by: Dominic Porco (son)
Luis Gonzalez
49, West Babylon, New York
“He was an incredible friend -- always going to bat for those he cared for,” says his sister, Kasandra Gonzalez Raux. “His death has left a huge hole in our hearts. We will never be the same again.”
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A gentle giant
I'm hoping to get a tattoo to honor him.
Submitted by: Kasandra Gonzalez Raux (sister)
Sandra Krakow
69, Middleton, Massachusetts
Ira Krakow wants everyone to know that his wife of nearly 50 years would always sacrifice her own comfort for the comfort of others. She used this “skill,” as he calls it, throughout her three-decade career as a nurse working in obstetrics and caring for quadriplegics. Sandra was never one to complain, so her last words to Ira revealed how much pain the virus had caused. “Why me?” she asked.
Submitted by: Ira Krakow (husband)
Nancy McKeown
80, Louisville, Kentucky
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One 'tough cookie'
That's all you can ask -- that she was there for us when we needed her.
Submitted by: Theresa Foss (daughter)
Anthony Velez
32, Queens, New York
“He was my soul. He was the light of my eyes,” Angel Crespo says of his son. Despite the challenges of living with Cerebral Palsy, Anthony Velez enjoyed life’s simple pleasures — from food to travel. He loved music and playing his keyboard. “He brought joy to everybody because of his gentleness. He was like a gentleman, the way he treated people.”
Submitted by: Angel Crespo (father)
William W. Trabakino
63, Stamford, Connecticut
"Bill was just kind of a larger-than-life character. He was just a person everyone fell in love with."
Submitted by: Amy Wrobel (wife) and Becky Russo (friend)
Philamena Belone
44, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Belone Family
Even when she was hospitalized for Covid-19 and pneumonia for three days, Philamena Belone wanted to get home so she could resume doing what she loved most: teaching. Many of the students the teacher served are part of the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. "The most difficult students were given to my sister," her brother Phillip Belone said. "She taught kids everyone gave up on but her. She never gave up on anyone."
Heshmat Solhjoo
75, Qazvin, Iran
“She always had my back. When you’re really far away … just one person out there who always cares, always cares regardless — she was that person for me.”
Submitted by: Maryam Hamidirad (daughter)
Martin R. Travelstead
81, Brown County, Indiana
“He always said, ‘I love you’ before he left,” Robin Merritt remembers. Her dad, Martin R. Travelstead, was an Army veteran who loved showing off his prized 1954 Ford Sunliner Convertible at local car shows. A long-time deacon at his church, he kept his pockets full of candy for the kids who saw him as a grandfather figure. “They would ease up to him and ask him for a treat,” Merritt laughs. “He loved his church, and his God, and his country.” Travelstead was “inseparable” from his wife of 60 years, and devoted to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “He was what everybody needs to strive to be.”
Submitted by: Robin L Merritt (daughter)
John Herman Clomax Jr.
62, South Orange, New Jersey
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A trailblazer on Wall Street
He was a great storyteller. Sometimes he stretched (the truth) a little bit, you know.
Submitted by: Linda and Tony Clomax (siblings)
Mike DeRosa
64, Bellingham, Washington
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A MacGyver, family man and eternal optimist
Forty-eight years we had together... how many people can say that?
Submitted by: Pegi DeRosa (wife)
George Possas
93, Long Island, New York
“He was everyone's papou — it's Greek for grandfather. Everyone said he was like a father or grandfather to them.”
Submitted by: Denise Bocchicchio (daughter)
Theodore Lumpkin Jr.
100, Los Angeles, California
Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
Theodore Lumpkin Jr. was one of the last surviving members of the famed Tuskegee Airmen who served during World War II. He died a few days short of his 101st birthday. His legacy extended from fighting for his country in the decorated 100th Fighter Squadron of the Tuskegee Airmen to his work as a social worker and later a real estate agent.
Bobby Barber
84, Buckley, Washington
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A very friendly guy
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He was someone that would give the shirt off his back to anyone.
Submitted by: Jason Zumek (grandson)
Alan Kaplan
69, Coral Springs, Florida
Alan Kaplan shared an inimitable bond with his twin brother, Richard. The baseball-loving brothers spent what would be their final day together at a Nationals game. In this photo, Alan stands on the left, both of them beaming. “His smile, his hug, and the constant laughter” are what Richard says he will miss most about his brother.
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Forever a fan
And that was the last picture that we took together.
Submitted by: Richard Kaplan (twin brother)
Leilani Jordan
27, Upper Marlboro, Maryland
As the novel coronavirus began to spread, Leilani Jordan could have quarantined herself. The young woman had cerebral palsy, her parents Zenobia and Charles Shepard say. Working as a grocery clerk made her particularly vulnerable, but she insisted on going to work to help the store’s elderly customers.
Submitted by: Zenobia and Charles Shepard (parents)
Earnestine Johns-Carter
79, Picayune, Mississippi
The oldest of 14 siblings, Earnestine Johns-Carter attended the first all-black school in Picayune, Mississippi, and was one of the first majorettes to march in front of the school band. She loved dancing, music (especially DJ Papa Smurf) and daily trips to Walmart. “Her goal in life was to find, bring and keep her family legacy alive,” says her daughter, Vinner Scott. She will be “forever be remembered for the joy and love she left behind.”
Submitted by: Vinner Scott (daughter)
Leonardo Guzman
86, New York, New York
Leonardo Guzman was a big foodie — he loved to go out to eat and try new things. He will be remembered by his family as an honest, hard-working man with a great sense of humor. "Grandpa Leo," as his granddaughter calls him, immigrated to the US from Colombia in the 1980s. “He worked really, really hard for our family to have better opportunities here and we did,” says Ericka Uribe. “All of us lived for him, to make his dreams come true.”
Submitted by: Ericka Uribe (granddaughter)
Sundee Rutter
42, Everett, Washington
Sundee Rutter was in remission from breast cancer when she fell ill. Her hospital room was closed to visitors to prevent spread of the virus. Her six children, aged 13 to 24, said their last words to their mother using a walkie-talkie that was placed at her bedside. Rutter had been a single mother since the death of her husband in 2012.
Submitted by: Shawnna Olsen (sister)
Robert and Gwendolyn Francis
76 and 74, Bogalusa, Louisiana
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They were married 54 years and died four days apart.
It was the same for my dad. I asked the doctor, "Who's with him?"
Submitted by: Debra Francis (daughter)
Arlene Stringer-Cuevas
86, New York, New York
Arlene Stringer-Cuevas was the first woman to represent the neighborhood of Washington Heights on the New York City Council. Her son, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, remembers her as a “tough” single mother who loved her city.
Submitted by: Scott Stringer (son)
Ellyn T. Schreiner
68, Fairborn, Ohio
Ellyn Schreiner was a hospice nurse for 45 years and “the best aunt ever,” her sister, Nancy Ross, says. She loved NASCAR and scrapbooking. “She always had a smile on her face … Her family was her everything. She always made everyone feel special. She will be missed beyond words.”
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By her side when she passed
A tear ran down her face, and it looked like she was trying to say goodbye.
Submitted by: Nancy A. Ross (sister)
Guillermina Lucia Naranjo
89, Queens, New York
Guillermina L. Naranjo was the matriarch of her family. She is survived by her two children, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Her daughter, Gina, was preparing for her mom’s upcoming 90th birthday before the pandemic. “She was loved by those she met because she was a genuine human being.”
Submitted by: Gina Spanopoulos (daughter)
Jacqueline Harris
78, Southfield, Michigan
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A Jamaican mom who stressed kindess
She would always feed them. She didn't like to see anybody not have anything to eat.
Submitted by: Dwight Hugget (son)
Alfred J. Lizzio
99, Abington, Pennsylvania
Alfred J. Lizzio was an air mechanic in WWII. “When people asked him what his secret to a long life was, he would say a daily handful of raisins, or a banana, or glass of red wine, but it was most certainly his positive attitude,” Jeffrey Boyd wrote about his 99-year-old grandfather, whom he called Pop Pop.
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He tipped everyone with a gold coin
I think he just went to the bank and asked for a bunch.
Submitted by: Jeffrey Boyd (grandson)
Barbara Birchenough
65, Midland Park, New Jersey
Barbara Birchenough was days away from retirement when she was admitted to the same hospital where she cared for patients.
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A nurse for 46 years
We never really saw her in action at the hospital ... but we saw it at home.
Submitted by: Matthew Birchenough (son)
Lillie Mae Mitchell
89, Edison, New Jersey
Lillie Mae Mitchell was a lover of cards, dancing and the lottery. “She had a wonderful spirit about her,” says her daughter, Kristine Smith. A former machine operator and mother of five children, she had an infectious laugh and would dance and sing in her nursing home. “She loved seeing people smile.”
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Sweet Lips
My mom had this nickname ...
Submitted by: Kristine Smith (daughter)
Irwin and Theodora Balaban
87 and 88, Woodbury, New York
Irwin and Theodora Balaban where married for 65 years and were inseparable. Irwin was an engineer who worked on nuclear submarines and founded a robotics company. Theodora was a mother of three with an enormous heart. They died within a week of each other.
Submitted by: Jessica Jacobson (daughter)
Jay-Natalie La Santa
5 months, New York City
Danielle La Santa/From GoFundMe
Jay-Natalie La Santa was the infant daughter of a New York City firefighter and a Board of Education employee. And in her 5 months of life, she had already fought multiple battles. Jay-Natalie suffered from a heart condition before spending a month hospitalized with Covid-19. Her dad called her a "warrior princess" for her fighting spirit.
Walter James “Jimmy” Amoss Jr.
95, New Orleans, Louisiana
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A businessman and a family man
He had this amazing ability to step back and see the larger picture.
Submitted by: Sophie Amoss (granddaughter)
Ananda Mooliya
50, Queens, New York
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He believed work is worship
His only dream was his kids' future and a house to live (in) with my mom.
Submitted by: Amith Mooliya (son)
Michelle Lee Carter
53, Round Rock, Texas
Lauren Mayes says her mother, Michelle Lee Carter, lit up any room she was in. She was a perfect host who loved to bake sweet treats for family and friends at parties and social events. “She thought of everyone else before herself,” Mayes explains. “The world just lost a beautiful person.”
Submitted by: Lauren Mayes (daughter)
Timothy Lloyd Pernell Sr.
78, Newark, New Jersey
Timothy Lloyd Pernell Sr. was diagnosed with HIV in 1997. He also struggled with COPD and end-stage lymphoma. “He is a medical marvel,” says his daughter, Dr. Chris T. Pernell. “He never quit. He kept pushing, daring to live for his family and inspiring loads of health care providers along his journey.”
Submitted by: Dr. Chris T. Pernell (daughter)
Jonathan Coelho
32, Danbury, Connecticut
“I love you guys with all my heart, and you've given me the best life I could have ever asked for," Jonathan Coelho wrote in a goodbye note to his family shortly before his death. His wife, Katie, found the note on Jonathan’s phone along with his life insurance information.
Submitted by: Katie Coelho (wife)
Dr. Joseph Francis Wethington
93, Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota
During his career, Dr. Joseph Francis Wethington served as a county medical examiner for 25 years and helped establish a missionary medical clinic in Guatemala. Wethington and Ellen, his wife of 65 years, had six children and 14 grandchildren.
Submitted by: Madeline, Audrey and Jacqueline Wethington, and Ellen Arnold (granddaughters)
Bill Mantell
68, Queens, New York
“Selfless.” That’s how Bill Mantell’s wife and daughters describe him. Mantell ran a small community pharmacy in New York for 31 years. The pharmacy stayed open even as the community was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. His daughter Gail recalls asking him to close the store. “He said, ‘I own a pharmacy and people need their medication’ … He went to work to help people, and that’s why he died.”
Submitted by: The Mantell Family
Julius Bowens
72, Brooklyn, New York
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His children were his pride and joy
When (the neighbors) heard they were devastated. The entire block was in tears.
Submitted by: Rebecca Bowens-Belle (daughter)
Diane and Edward Jasmine
70 and 71, LaPlace, Louisiana
In mid-March, Pastor Antoine Jasmine noticed his parents, Diane and Edward Jasmine, looked ill. On Good Friday, they died within two hours of each other.
Submitted by: Antoine Jasmine (son)
Carolann Christine Gann
75, Seattle, Washington
Carolann Christine Gann was a career nurse. Her daughter is grateful another nurse was by Carolann’s side as she neared the end of her life.
Submitted by: Michelle Bennett (daughter)
Margaret Ann Spangler
81, Everett, Washington
Margaret Ann Spangler was a strong, smart, opinionated, funny, caring woman who loved her family fiercely. "She was the glue for our family," her daughter, Christi, says. "Our only comfort is knowing she is back with Dad. She missed him so much.”
Submitted by: Christi and Sherri (daughters)
Zettie Steed Jr.
69, Freeport, New York
Veronica Eubanks says it’s hard for her to think about what her dad went through while he was hospitalized and not able to see his family. "He really loved his family. And, of course, he loved his country." Zettie Steed Jr., who died on April 3, served four years in the US Marine Corps.
Submitted by: Veronica Eubanks (daughter)
Jonas Chaves
86, Swampscott, Massachusetts
“Jonas Chaves was an engaged citizen through and through,” writes his nephew Richard Harris. A Navy veteran, fire department volunteer and former FAA employee, Chaves left his long-term care facility while undergoing treatment for a serious infection to cast his vote at the local town hall. “He always took his civic responsibilities seriously.”
Submitted by: Richard Harris (nephew)
Brittany Ringo
32, Los Angeles, California
“She had such a kind heart, and was loved and will be missed by many. This virus has taken my beloved sister too soon.”
Submitted by: Ebone M. Bruner (sister)
Sabina Evangelista-Grasso
77, Suffern, New York
“The grandchildren would say, ‘I love you, Grandma.’ She said, ‘I love you more.’ And she’d always keep on going, ‘’I love you most.’ She always said that.”
Submitted by: Deana Evangelista (daughter)
Doris Granderson
70, Picayune, Mississippi
Doris Granderson was a woman of deep faith. On their last phone call, Sonja Sanders says her mother asked for a pastor's prayer and said, "I love you guys.”
Submitted by: Sonja Sanders (daughter)
Zelene Blancas
35, El Paso, Texas
Blancas Family
Zelene Blancas’s family wants people to remember the first-grade teacher by how she spread a message of kindness to her students and everyone around her. "She was like my Wonder Woman," her brother Mario Blancas said. "She was my backbone, and she was like my second mother even though we are only four years apart."
Sarah Washington
82, Hayward, California
People loved to hear Sarah Washington singing and playing the piano. Her love for music started as a child at Sunday church services. She went on to become a choir director at a California high school and at Providence Baptist Church for more than 25 years. Washington was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2009, but still remembered every key and every note, says her granddaughter Brielle Washington. One of her favorite songs was “This Little Light of Mine.”
Submitted by: Brielle Washington (granddaughter)
Martin Addison
44, Waldwick, New Jersey
He was the type of dad who would do Donald Duck impressions to make his 6-month-old son giggle. After work, he would meet his 2-year-old daughter outside and fly her around the front yard as she squealed with excitement. Every Saturday morning they bonded over bagels for breakfast. Pamela Addison says her husband was a devoted partner who found joy planning special surprises for his wife, including tickets to see Idina Menzel in concert. After his death, Pamela learned Martin was planning another special surprise— a getaway for their upcoming anniversary in October. “He would do those little things to make me feel special,” Pamela says. “He also tried to make other people feel special too.”
Submitted by: Pamela Addison (wife)
Clifton Dougherty
78, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Video courtesy Minnesota Veterans Home
Nancy Taranto says her dad loved everyone. “He had an incredible sense of humor and made every single human being feel like they were part of something bigger.” His caregivers at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis held a procession of honor after he passed.
Submitted by: Nancy Taranto (daughter)
Mohammad Kator
76, Los Angeles, California
Grandson of the King of Chitral in Pakistan, Mohammad Kator was an avid agriculturist, freedom fighter, educational advocate and father of 12. Shot twice during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, he immigrated to the United States with his family in the 1980s.
Submitted by: Zakia Kator (daughter) and Amina Kator-Mubarez (granddaughter)
Siew Eng Tan
83, Queens, New York
From the garments she made as a seamstress to the care she put into cooking, Siew Eng was a perfectionist. She spent hours making Malaysian Teochew Png Kueh, a steamed glutinous rice cake. It’s meant for birthdays, but she made it whenever her family asked. “With Chinese culture, you show love through what you do. Not only did she do that, but she hugged you and said she loved you,” her granddaughter Justine Chen says.
Submitted by: Justine Chen (granddaughter)
Mike Lepine
81, Queens, New York
Mike Lepine worked for 54 years at a family-run butcher shop that the Lepines have run for three generations. “He took great pride in his work,” says Dustin Zito who worked side-by-side with his grandfather. “If you had a chance to know Pops, you were blessed.”
Submitted by: Dustin Zito (grandson)
Mario Cesar Romero
78, New York, New York
Mario Cesar Romero was an art historian and curator who dedicated his life to promoting the history and culture of Puerto Rico. He is survived by his sister, Migdalia Romero, and two nieces, Larisa Ortiz and Susan Romero Anselmi.
Submitted by: Larisa Ortiz (niece)
Derek Johnson
35, Bronx, New York
“He will always be my baby,” Devonne Johnson says. “The bond between mother and son is just unbreakable.” Derek was a writer-turned-social worker and spent the last 11 years working with at-risk and developmentally disabled youth. “He cared a lot about others,” Devonne explains. Just 18 months ago, Derek married the love of his life, Nicole Johnson. “I have never seen two people more devoted,” his mother recalls. The couple recently moved into a new apartment and set goals to get into top physical shape before starting a family. “They wanted to have a baby,” Devonne says. “I have never felt like this before.”
Submitted by: Devonne Johnson (mother)
John A. Richardson
84, Oak Lawn, Illinois
John A. Richardson was a math teacher and special education coordinator for over 20 years. He loved music and his family. “He was a lot of fun. He loved spending time with his grandkids,” said his daughter, Joan Washington. “He was so silly with them and made up little nicknames for all of them.”
Submitted by: Joan W. Bartlett (daughter)
Ruben Burks
86, Flint, Michigan
Ruben Burks spent more than 60 years championing the work of women and people of color in the labor movement. "His real focus was on community, and making sure everyone had an opportunity to be their best self,” his grandson Tony Burks says. Known for his constant thumbs-up, Ruben encouraged his large family to face difficult situations with positivity and enthusiasm. He was the first African-American secretary-treasurer of the United Auto Workers, and even after he retired, he organized a group to protest the water supply problems in Flint.
Submitted by: Tony Burks (grandson)
Augusto C. Victorino Valderas
58, Rockland County, New York
"My dad was a very loving man. A noble man. A family man," says Lauren Victorino. Augusto Valderas was a social worker and youth basketball coach. He came to the US from the Dominican Republic in 1988 and is survived by his wife and three children.
Submitted by: Lauren Victorino (daughter)
Rolando "Sonny" Aravena
44, New Windsor, New York
Rolando "Sonny" Aravena, a father of five, died from the virus on the day of his twin daughters' 10th birthday.
Submitted by: Melody Aravena (wife)
Nee Lartey
84, Brooklyn, New York
Nee Lartey adored his wife, Linda, and his daughters, and put them above all else. "I enjoyed his laugh," his daughter Victoria Lartey-Williams says. "I'll miss that -- his energy. He always made me feel safe and secure."
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Stoic, with a smile that could light up a room
He had a very strong presence ... you could just feel his energy.
Submitted by: Victoria Lartey-Williams (daughter)
Beverly Ann Holloway Reep
63, Warren, Arkansas
Beverly Ann Holloway Reep was a beloved history teacher who touched the lives of more than 4,000 children, her son Robert Reep says. She was best known for her experiential teaching style -- taking students to different historical locations, including an annual field trip to Washington, DC.
Submitted by: Robert Reep (son)
AnnMarie Thelma Robain
83, Queens, New York
AnnMarie Robain was born in Trinidad and moved to America in 1973 with her husband, Leo. She raised five children while working in New York. She was known for making traditional Trinidad dishes, such as roti, black cake and pastelles.
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She loved cooking, traveling and politics
She would talk to anybody about politics all day. She watched CNN literally all day.
Submitted by: Alexis Fontaine (granddaughter)
Husey Delbert Meade
66, Douglasville, Georgia
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“Papa” to everyone
He would do just about anything, from playing dress-up, tea parties, riding bikes...
Submitted by: Rebecca Newborn (daughter)
Leslie Leake, Enekee Leake and John Leake Jr.
74, 45 and 44, Washington, D.C.
Shanta Leake-Cherry lost her mom and two siblings in less than a month to the virus. Her mom, Leslie Leake, was a people person. “My mom was the one that exemplified love. If she didn’t have anything to give, she gave love.” Her sister Nicky was the social butterfly of the family — “she would be the one to talk to everybody and embrace them regardless of who they were.” And her brother John was the chef who cooked for every family function. “He was a jokester,” Shanta says. “It was just a joy to be in his company.”
Submitted by: Shanta Leake-Cherry (daughter/sister)
Carlos Arturo GarcÃa
70, Elizabeth, New Jersey
Family was everything to Carlos Arturo GarcÃa, and he never stopped working to support them. After he had a stroke five years ago, his wife took over his job delivering medicine to nursing homes. He put on his uniform each day and rode with her. He loved sharing a meal with his family and watching soccer and novellas with them, his daughter says. GarcÃa moved from Colombia in 1970 and became a US citizen last year.
Submitted by: Monica V. Garcia (daughter)
Dr. Leandro Resurreccion III
57, Manila, Philippines
Dr. Leandro Resurreccion III was the first pediatric transplant surgeon in the Philippines. After training in Australia, Dr. Resurreccion decided to move back home to practice because that’s where he was needed. “He had this fiery passion to serve Filipino children,” his son Leandro Resurreccion IV says.
Submitted by: Leandro Resurreccion IV (son)
Tin Aye
60, Aurora, Colorado
Family photo
Tin Aye worked tirelessly so her children could have a better life. She fled her native Myanmar, also known as Burma, and later moved to the US. Aye couldn’t speak English but found work at a JBS meat packing plant in Colorado. Her daughter San Twin said her mom always looked out for others: "If she saw a homeless person on the street and hungry, she would give them her food and she wouldn't eat.”
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