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.
David Behrbom was a teacher at PS/CS 55 in the South Bronx. His impact on the world, according to his school’s principal, is carried on by his students.
“When you have an impact on this world in a positive way, it is the legacy,” Luis Torres Behrbom’s friend and school principal at PS/CS 55 said. “He's left an amazing legacy behind.”
Behrbom leaves behind a wife, his 10-year-old son, and an eight-year-old daughter.
Priscilla Carrow was a coordinating manager at Elmhurst hospital — located in one of the Queens’ neighborhoods hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. She was a community activist and was counting down the days until her retirement.
“She was planning on doing things with her daughter, her grandkids, her son,” her friend Nancy Taylor said of Carrow’s retirement plans.
Carrow leaves behind a daughter, a son and her grandkids.
Elvester McKoy was born and raised in South Ozone Park and was a Correction Officer.
His sister, Geraldine Venson, remembers her brother as a loving father to his 6-year-old son. He loved his job and cooking for his family.
“He loved the uniform.” Venson said. “It was like he had another family there at the correction department, he loved his coworkers, he was just one of a kind.”
He leaves behind a wife and a son.