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.
Anthony and Rosemary Terio were together for 65 years. On March 17, Anthony fell at home, and after being admitted to Mount Sinai in Queens, he tested positive for COVID-19. A few days later, Rosemary began feeling sick.
They were in different hospitals and unable to see each other. Anthony and Rosemary died within five days of each other.
“We had to go through the devastation of losing our father and not being able to tell our mother,” their daughter Lisa Terio-Heath said. “I knew that she knew because you have a connection with somebody that many years, you can feel something about them.”
Ezequiel Ortiz was a father, an immigrant, and a restaurant owner in Queens. His restaurant was named for his home state of Puebla, Mexico.
He died at home after coming down with headaches and a fever. His daughter Ixchel Ortiz said he was told he didn’t have symptoms that required a trip to the hospital.
“He’s always there for me,” said his daughter. “Every time I needed help with something, he was there.”
Fred Klein and his son Robert shared a passion for basketball, a passion that Fred was well known for.
He earned the title of “Knicks Superfan” and rooted for the team through good and bad times-- sitting courtside since 1959 when he bought his first season tickets.
“He meant a lot to me,” his son said. “I find only now as an adult, I'm sort of starting to realize, you know, all the lessons that he's taught me and and and how much of him is in me as a person.”