A new memorial project from NBC News:
Read the stories of 60 coronavirus victims from all walks of life and how the lives of their loved ones have been entirely changed in just a matter of weeks.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
Read the stories of 60 coronavirus victims from all walks of life and how the lives of their loved ones have been entirely changed in just a matter of weeks.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
61-year-old Patricia Frieson of Chicago spent her career caring for others as a nurse.
Her nephew says “her main thing was to see people smile.”
She was Illinois’ first fatality from the illness on March 16, per the Chicago Sun-Times.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
Her nephew says “her main thing was to see people smile.”
She was Illinois’ first fatality from the illness on March 16, per the Chicago Sun-Times.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
66-year-old Gary Young was a “hidden staple” of his community in California.
His daughter has received messages from those he touched the hearts of when working in customer service.
“He was always friendly,” says a customer. “A staple whom I will miss."
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
His daughter has received messages from those he touched the hearts of when working in customer service.
“He was always friendly,” says a customer. “A staple whom I will miss."
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
61-year-old Larry Edgeworth was always the first to volunteer for any assignment during his 25 years as a sound technician for NBC News.
“Larry was a gentle bear of a man, the heart and soul of our extended NBC family,” says @mitchellreports.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
“Larry was a gentle bear of a man, the heart and soul of our extended NBC family,” says @mitchellreports.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
Principal Dez-Ann Romain, 36, had "an infectious smile and a Michelle Obama aura."
"She’s a mother, even though she didn’t have kids,” a former student says. “We were her children.”
She was the first NYC public school official to die from coronavirus.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
"She’s a mother, even though she didn’t have kids,” a former student says. “We were her children.”
She was the first NYC public school official to die from coronavirus.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
93-year-old Robert Kirkbride spent his life on the front lines.
He served as a WWII infantryman, military policeman, police officer, firefighter, and fire chief.
Because of the stay-at-home order, Kirkbride was buried without a service, his nephew says.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
He served as a WWII infantryman, military policeman, police officer, firefighter, and fire chief.
Because of the stay-at-home order, Kirkbride was buried without a service, his nephew says.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
The Rev. Isaac Graham was a pastor in Harlem for 40+ years.
His daughter, who was at the church ministering on March 22, got word after 11 a.m. that her father had died.
“I know he was at peace ... He was telling me, ‘I’m happy because you’re doing what I taught you to do.’”
His daughter, who was at the church ministering on March 22, got word after 11 a.m. that her father had died.
“I know he was at peace ... He was telling me, ‘I’m happy because you’re doing what I taught you to do.’”
Mike Farley was a retired probate attorney in Denver who devoted more than 30 years of volunteer work to the cause of low-income housing.
He leaves behind his wife of 59 years, 2 children and 2 grandchildren.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
He leaves behind his wife of 59 years, 2 children and 2 grandchildren.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
Wanda Bailey, a 63-year-old medical coder in Chicago, would cry nearly every time she saw her son.
“It was so warming to know that you were loved,” he says.
Wanda died about a week after her younger sister, Patricia (included in this thread above), also died from coronavirus.
“It was so warming to know that you were loved,” he says.
Wanda died about a week after her younger sister, Patricia (included in this thread above), also died from coronavirus.
Bishop Robert Earl Smith Sr., 82, was known for stopping people on the street and asking if he could pray with them.
He took care of his wife who has dementia, and took her to every service he attended.
“Everywhere he went, she went,” says his son.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
He took care of his wife who has dementia, and took her to every service he attended.
“Everywhere he went, she went,” says his son.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
Pastor Kevelin Jones Sr., 72, raised 9 children with his wife in Flint, Michigan.
During the lead-contaminated water crisis, he would sit outside his church with water for people who needed it.
“Love conquers all,” says his wife. “And he had it down pat. He had it down pat.”
During the lead-contaminated water crisis, he would sit outside his church with water for people who needed it.
“Love conquers all,” says his wife. “And he had it down pat. He had it down pat.”
49-year-old Rev. Jorge Ortiz-Garay was “more than a father” to his Brooklyn congregation of mainly Hispanics and low-income immigrants, a colleague says.
"In times of difficulty, Father Jorge would tell his people 'ánimo',” says a friend. “Have faith, have courage.”
"In times of difficulty, Father Jorge would tell his people 'ánimo',” says a friend. “Have faith, have courage.”
25-year-old Bassey Offiong was a “gentle giant.”
The chemical engineering student at Western Michigan University was weeks away from graduation when he became sick.
He hoped to work in the cosmetics industry, developing organic makeup products.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
The chemical engineering student at Western Michigan University was weeks away from graduation when he became sick.
He hoped to work in the cosmetics industry, developing organic makeup products.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
Jack Bandy, 93, was a successful businessman, but "the most humble."
“We never knew about his accomplishments unless we read about them,” says his granddaughter.
After his death, she took calls from some who'd known him. She'd never heard so many grown men cry, she says.
“We never knew about his accomplishments unless we read about them,” says his granddaughter.
After his death, she took calls from some who'd known him. She'd never heard so many grown men cry, she says.
James Villecco was a 55-year-old FDNY mechanic.
The day before he died, his wife stood 6 feet from his hospital bed and said, “I want you to know that I married the right one.”
He was the first member of the FDNY to die of coronavirus.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
The day before he died, his wife stood 6 feet from his hospital bed and said, “I want you to know that I married the right one.”
He was the first member of the FDNY to die of coronavirus.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
Lawrence and Patsy Adcock, 86 and 83, spent 65 years as husband and wife.
The same day Lawrence died, Patsy started experiencing symptoms of coronavirus.
“We always planned to be able to go together,” Patsy told their son. She died two weeks later. nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
The same day Lawrence died, Patsy started experiencing symptoms of coronavirus.
“We always planned to be able to go together,” Patsy told their son. She died two weeks later. nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
33-year-old Israel Tolentino Jr. was known for his generosity and selflessness.
He once invited a homeless man to his family's dinner table, his wife recalls.
“He would light up the room,” she says. “The room is now just a little less bright.”
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
He once invited a homeless man to his family's dinner table, his wife recalls.
“He would light up the room,” she says. “The room is now just a little less bright.”
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
27-year-old Leilani Jordan didn’t call out of work at the grocery store, where she'd been for 6 years.
"Customers have been finding me and calling me and telling me, 'Thank you, you don’t know what your baby did for us every day,'" says her mom.
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"Customers have been finding me and calling me and telling me, 'Thank you, you don’t know what your baby did for us every day,'" says her mom.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
Colleagues say 43-year-old Det. Marylou Armer always had a smile and managed to excel in her job’s most challenging moments.
She’d served with Santa Rosa PD for over 2 decades.
She died on March 31, after twice being denied a COVID-19 test, her family says.
She’d served with Santa Rosa PD for over 2 decades.
She died on March 31, after twice being denied a COVID-19 test, her family says.
Art Whistler, 75, was known as “‘Tupu o le Vao Matua,” or “The King of the Forest” by locals in Samoa.
“We will never again see the likes of an individual" with such a deep connection to the Hawaiian islands and people, says his girlfriend.
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“We will never again see the likes of an individual" with such a deep connection to the Hawaiian islands and people, says his girlfriend.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
Bob Glanzer, a 74-year-old Republican lawmaker in South Dakota, works for his constituents "to his last moments," says his son.
"Someone sent a card," he says. "The first line was ‘They don't make cards for what you're going through.'"
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
"Someone sent a card," he says. "The first line was ‘They don't make cards for what you're going through.'"
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
Wilson Maa, 71, and his wife boarded the Coral Princess on March 5 to travel around South America.
The couple was stranded aboard the ship until it reached Miami on April 4. By then, Wilson had developed symptoms and was taken to a hospital.
He died the same day.
The couple was stranded aboard the ship until it reached Miami on April 4. By then, Wilson had developed symptoms and was taken to a hospital.
He died the same day.
When James Walker, 59, called his wife to tell her that he had COVID-19, her first response was "Stop playing!"
He loved pranking her.
A nurse called his wife on April 5 to tell her that she held his hand while he took his last breaths so he wasn't alone.
He loved pranking her.
A nurse called his wife on April 5 to tell her that she held his hand while he took his last breaths so he wasn't alone.
After recovering from a yearslong crack cocaine addiction, Virgil Sutton led an addiction recovery ministry at his church.
For more than a decade, he led a weekly group where he'd offer coaching and support.
"This dude was a warrior,” says a pastor.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
For more than a decade, he led a weekly group where he'd offer coaching and support.
"This dude was a warrior,” says a pastor.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
Raymond Copeland, 46, was so proud to be a sanitation worker that he bought a plaque with the word “strongest” on it to commemorate the agency’s motto, “New York’s Strongest,” says his daughter.
He felt like he was “a part of something great.”
He felt like he was “a part of something great.”
Rudolph Sutton, 67, was serving time for a murder he insisted he did not commit.
“I waited so long for him,” says his son. “And now I’ll never see him again.”
The Pennsylvania Innocence Project says it plans to continue fighting for his exoneration.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
“I waited so long for him,” says his son. “And now I’ll never see him again.”
The Pennsylvania Innocence Project says it plans to continue fighting for his exoneration.
nbcnews.to/2SlT7uN
