Rockaway Remembers Sandy Victims 12 Years Later
Many things have been rebuilt, but there are some things that Rockaway can never get back that were taken because of Hurricane Sandy on October 29, 2012—neighbors. On this 12th anniversary, we must not forget those who lost their lives due to the storm. Hurricane Sandy was directly responsible for the deaths of at least 147 people from the Caribbean to the U.S. and Canada. Of those, 44 were in New York.
Twelve years later, let us remember:
Richard Gold, 67, an Army veteran and beloved mailman who lived on Beach 133rd Street. David Gotthelf, 72, a resident of Beach 115th Street who lived with cerebral palsy. Keith Lancaster, 62, who lived in a trailer on Beach 40th Street. His body was discovered in April 2013. William McKeon, 78, who lived in a building on Shore Front Parkway. On November 6, 2012, he died of injuries from a fall during the storm. Albert McSwain, 77, who lived in the Hammels. On November 10, he died of injuries from a fall during the storm. Santina Reilly, 84, described by a neighbor as “the cat lady” of Beach 87th Street. Nancy Sorenson, 50, a wife, a mother and a beloved teacher at Our Lady of Grace. She lived on Beach 124th Street. George Stathis, 90, singer Cindy Lauper’s uncle. He lived on Beach 121st Street. Henry Sullivan, 57, a husband and science teacher at Abraham Lincoln High School in Coney Island. He lived on Beach 136th Street. Eden Toussaint, 58, a Grenadian American military veteran in the U.S. Army. He lived on Beach 69th Street.
Let us also remember those who may have died in the weeks and months following the storm due to accidents and stress from the recovery process. They are not forgotten.