Gianmarco Bertolotti was only 42 years old when he died from the coronavirus. His sister said they were like twins and his death has been devastating.
What You Need To Know:
- Bertolotti was an essential worker at Lennox Hill Hospital.
- He was 42 years old when he died from the coronavirus.
- Family says Bertolotti didn’t have any underlying illnesses.
- The 42-year-old died a week after he was hospitalized with the virus.
"There is no one I have ever met in this world who was like my brother. He explored life without restrictions. He never took selfies until one week before he passed. He sent me his first selfie.
He actually said it would be his first and last selfie. Which actually kind of makes me sad when I reread that because it did wind up being the last selfie that he sent." said Monique Bertolotti, his sister.
Bertolotti was a mason worker at Lenox Hill Hospital, but it’s not clear how he contracted the virus.
"He was an essential worker and he was going to work every single day and he wasn’t really nervous. He was very responsible. He made sure he wore a mask. He took the subway in and he developed pneumonia in both lungs," said Bertolotti.
Bertolotti went quickly. His family said he didn’t have any underlying illnesses, but he died a week after he was hospitalized with the virus. Monique Bertolotti was his big sister and his only sibling.
"We had lost my mom six years ago. She had passed away from cancer and then my grandmother two years ago, so my dad and my brother and I became like this little team and yeah, it’s devastating. He was only 42 and a big part of our life," Bertolotti said.
Bertolotti became a mason 12 years ago after discovering how much he loved working with his hands. He grew up in West Hempstead on Long Island, but lived in Astoria Queens where he loved to explore the culture and the food with his girlfriend, especially some of the more unique delicacies like crickets. His family said he was bold, fun and adventurous. He also loved music and dancing, but most of all, he loved people.
"Nice is a really good description of my brother. He really was just genuinely a good person. He was authentic. He was unique, but what it all came down to is that he was someone who you could trust your life with," Bertolotti said.
He was never married and he didn’t have children, but he leaves behind his father, sister, uncles, aunts, cousins and close friends who were also like family.