[Updated: Thursday, November 22, 12:58am ET]
My deepest gratitude to New York Magazine for publishing my memorial to the people who lost their lives to Hurricane Sandy. Their researchers have helped to fill in some of the blanks on previously unidentified victims. You can continue to find the latest information here, as I have been updating daily.
On Saturday, November 17, The New York Times finally published their own list of names of those who were killed by Hurricane Sandy, “within a 65-mile radius of New York City.” Their data has allowed me to confirm a lot of my own and fill in some blanks as well. My post below remains the most complete account of all deaths as a result of the storm. [Article] [Interactive map]
As the death toll rises, the empathy wanes. It becomes harder to feel the weight of each individual. And it breaks my heart.
My boyfriend reminded me of the Stalin quote: “One death is a tragedy; one million is a statistic.” He’s right — the dead become numbers and their uniqueness is lost.
I haven’t found a single news source that has aggregated the names and causes of death of every person killed by the effects of Hurricane Sandy, so I decided to compile one myself. It has taken hours of research, as most articles fail to identify the names of the deceased, choosing instead to depersonalize their stories.
I’ve done my very best to account for everyone, but there are a lot gaps to fill. I will continue to update this post as new information is received. Please leave a comment if you have an addition or edit.
Thank you for joining me in helping to keep empathy alive. And to all who have lost a loved one, may their lives be a blessing. Rest in peace.
New York City
Staten Island
Artur Kasprzak, 28
Monday, October 29, 2012
South Beach, Staten Island
The off-duty NYPD rescued seven members of his family, including his 15-month-old son, from rising flood waters by ushering them into the attic, only to die from electrocution. His story…
Angela Dresch, 13 and George Dresch, 55
Monday, October 29, 2012
Tottenville, Staten Island
Refusing to evacuate because their home was robbed during Hurricane Irene, father and daughter drowned when a massive wave came in and knocked their house off its foundation. Mother/wife Patricia is in critical condition with hypothermia. Their story…
John Filipowicz Sr., 51 and John Filipowicz Jr., 20
Monday, October 29, 2012
Oakwood Beach, Staten Island
John Sr. didn’t want to leave his family home behind, so his son stayed with him. They were found together in the basement, where they drowned, locked in a final embrace. Their story…
Ella Norris, 89
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Ocean Breeze, Staten Island
Trapped in her flooded living room with her daughter, rescue workers attempted to get inside for hours. Her last words were, “Diane, I can’t do this anymore,” then went limp in her daughter’s arms. Her story…
George P. O’Regan, 79
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Shore Acres, Staten Island
The electricity was out in his apartment building, where the retired city firefighter and Korean War hero apparently lost his footing in a hallway stairwell and fell. His story…
Andrew P. Sammarco, 61
Monday, October 29, 2012
South Beach, Staten Island
While evacuating, he and his wife Angela hurried into their basement to fetch their laptops when water quickly filled their basement, separating the couple and trapping Andrew behind a door, where he drowned. His story…
Eugene Contrubis, 62
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Midland Beach, Staten Island
The Corrections officer was found dead inside his home by police, where it appears he was trapped and drowned. He refused to evacuate because no one else seemed to be doing so. His story…
Leonard Montalto, 53
Monday, October 29, 2012
Oakwood Beach, Staten Island
The U.S. Postal Service worker was found floating in the basement of his home. His daughter had been with him that evening until he insisted she leave. He wanted to stay back to make sure the pump worked. His story…
Connor Moore, 4 and Brandon Moore, 2
Monday, October 29, 2012
South Beach, Staten Island
Attempting to evacuate, their mother’s car stalled in flood waters and they had to get out and walk. She was carrying them in her arms when a surge came and swept them away. Their story…
Marie Colborne, 66 and Walter Colborne, 89
Unknown
Great Kills, Staten Island
The husband and wife were discovered in a wooded lot a block from their home on Thursday, November 1. Their story…
Patricia Bevan, 59
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Midland Beach, Staten Island
Found floating in a pool of water on the first floor of her home while police conducted door-to-door searches on Wednesday, October 31. She hold told a neighbor she wasn’t evacuating because she had no place to go. Her story…
Beatrice Spagnuolo, 79
Monday, October 29, 2012
Midland Beach, Staten Island
When the storm surge hit, she became trapped in her home and drowned. Her daughter Lucy had run outside to start the car in an attempt to flee. When the surge came, she wasn’t able to get back inside to save her mother. Her story…
Anna Gesso, 62
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Midland Beach, Staten Island
When she and a neighbor tried to evacuate, their cars became waterlogged and they were forced back home. Her neighbor begged her to come stay with her, but she refused. Police found her floating in her basement the next day. Her story…
John “Jack” Paterno, 65
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Midland Beach, Staten Island
The wheelchair-bound man was found submerged beneath his overturned bed during door-to-door searches on Wednesday, October 31. His cockatoo also died, but his pit bull survived by standing on top of the bird cage. His story…
Anastasia Rispoli, 73
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Midland Beach, Staten Island
Found unconscious and unresponsive inside her home.
James “Uncle Jimmy” Rossi, 85
Monday, October 29, 2012
Ocean Breeze, Staten Island
He told his family he was planning to evacuate and would be staying with friends, but no one had heard from him by the next day. He was found in deep water in his backyard. His bulldog, Shorty, survived. His story…
Charlotte Brewster, 74, and David Haggerty, 65
Unknown
Midland Beach, Staten Island
Brother and sister were discovered by police on Friday, November 1, in a house-to-house search of the neighborhood. They had told their landlord that they wanted to stay behind to take care of their pets, because they didn’t believe the storm would be that bad after the nonevent of Hurricane Irene. Their story…
David Maxwell, 64
Unknown
Midland Beach, Staten Island
Neighbors, who hadn’t seen David since the storm, flagged down police asking them to check on his house. He was found inside unconscious and unresponsive, 11 days after the hurricane. During the storm surge, water had risen to the top of the home’s front door, filling the structure. His cat also died. David’s life partner had recently suffered a stroke and resides in nearby nursing home. His story…
Brooklyn
Jessie Streich-Kest, 24 and Jacob Vogelman, 24
Monday, October 29, 2012
Ditmas Park, Brooklyn
The childhood friends were walking their dog in Ditmas Park when they were crushed by a falling tree. Their bodies weren’t discovered until the following morning. The dog lived. Their story… | Donate to Jessie’s favorite cause
Richard Krins, 67
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn
Found unconscious and unresponsive by police on Tuesday, October 30, in his home. His story…
Senpo Hua, 87
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Coney Island, Brooklyn
Found on Tuesday, October 30, lying face down underwater in the living room of his home.
Cy Schoenfeld, 72
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn
Found in his home by police on Tuesday, October 30. He had drowned.
Lorraine Gore, 91
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Coney Island, Brooklyn
Found dead by her niece on Tuesday, October 30, lying face down in the first-floor living room of her apartment. She had refused to evacuate.
Unidentified man, 51
Unknown
Gravesend, Brooklyn
Found unconscious and unresponsive by police Thursday, November 1, in a grassy area. The cause of death was drowning.
Unidentified man, 48
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Gowanus, Brooklyn
He slipped and fell on a wet patch of ground right outside of a building without power, presumably where he lived. He was found unconscious.
Queens
Lauren Abraham, 23
Monday, October 29, 2012
Richmond Hill, Queens
The makeup artist was electrocuted when she tripped and fell on a downed power line, after going outside to take photos of the storm. Her body burned for 30 minutes before emergency personnel arrived. Her story…
Anthony “Tony” Laino, 29
Monday, October 29, 2012
Flushing, Queens
Crushed by the trunk of a tree that crashed through his second-floor bedroom. The family had been asking the city to take down the tree for years. His story… | Donate to his family
Nancy Sorenson, 50
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Rockaway Park, Queens
As her family was evacuating their flooded home, she made a final attempt to grab belongings when a sudden surge of water launched a broken mirror into the air that sliced arm. Her husband swam to the back of the basement to get her and pulled her out of the basement, but the cut was too severe. She bled to death. Her story…
David Gotthelf, 72
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Rockaway Park, Queens
Found in bed on Tuesday, October 30, having apparently drowned. He had cerebral palsy, and in recent years found it hard to get around on his two canes. Increasingly reliant on a wheelchair, David probably was not strong enough to pull himself to an area higher than his bed. Just before the water took over his home, he had called a coworker to plead for help. His story…
Rick Gold, 67
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30 , 2012
Belle Harbor, Queens
The beloved neighborhood letter carrier and Army veteran insisted on remaining at home even though his family evacuated, because of the hype of Hurricane Irene. Rick was on the phone with his wife watching water come into the basement shortly before he died. The block was flooded with five feet of raging water, so neighbors couldn’t get into the house until the next day. His story…
Albert McSwain, 77
Saturday, November 10
Rockaway Beach, Queens
Wanting to go outside with his daughter for some fresh air on Wednesday, October 31, they encountered the unlit, wet staircase. She turned back to get a flashlight and moments later Albert slipped and fell down the stairs. Power had been out in the building since the storm. Ten days later, he succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. His story…
Henry Sullivan, 57
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Belle Harbor, Queens
He had gone down to his basement to shut off the gas to his home and never returned. He was found submerged in the basement on Tuesday, October 30.
Rose Faggiano, 85
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Howard Beach, Queens
Her neighbors said they heard her yelling for help Monday evening, but the current was too strong to rescue her. Firefighters found her dead inside from an apparent drowning while conducting a door-to-door search of the area on Tuesday, October 30. Her story…
Eden Toussaint, 58
Unknown
Rockaway Beach, Queens
Found by police in the basement of his home on Wednesday, October 31. He appeared to have drowned.
George Stathis, 90
Unknown
Rockaway Park, Queens
Found dead in his home on Saturday, November 3. His cause of death has not been released. He had not wanted to leave his home because he didn’t expect the storm to be that bad. His story…
William McKeon, 78
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Rockaway Beach, Queens
Found unconscious and bleeding from his head at the bottom of a wet, sandy stairwell inside his home. He had been without power since the storm. His story…
Unidentified woman, 84
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Rockaway Beach, Queens
Found on Tuesday, October 30. Cause of death unknown.
Manhattan
Herminia St. John, 75
Monday, October 29, 2012
Gramercy, Manhattan
The great-grandmother suffered cardiac arrest after she lost power to her respirator and her backup tank sprang a leak. Her daughter and live-in aide couldn’t fix it in the dark. She had survived a wild storm decades ago in her native Panama when the wind propelled a piece of metal that gashed her leg. Her story…
Anthony Narh, 58
Monday, October 29, 2012
TriBeCa, Manhattan
The Ghanaian immigrant and Bronx resident was found dead inside a car on the first floor of a parking garage where he worked. He had been called in to work that night. His story…
Frank Suber, 55
Monday, October 29, 2012
Financial District, Manhattan
A Staten Island homeless man was walking through Lower Manhattan when the storm hit. A surge pushed him from the sidewalk through the doors of a commercial building, where he was found in the basement.
Pao Chu Hsieh, 101
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Lower East Side, Manhattan
When she began coughing uncontrollably, a family member called 911, but by the time ambulance workers arrived, she was unresponsive. While the chief medical examiner’s office has ruled that Pao died of natural causes, there were freezing temperatures outside and her apartment complex was still without heat or electricity 7 days after the storm. Her story…
Long Island, NY
Vishwaja Muppa, 21
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Port Jefferson Station, Long Island
The Edison, NJ, woman was riding in an SUV when it collided with a police car, killing her. It happened at 1:30am Tuesday during the storm.
Anne Marie Dolan, 57
Unknown
Commack, Long Island
The homeless woman was killed when a tree fell on her tent pitched in woods. Her body was discovered on Monday, November 5, but the date of her death was not known. Her story…
Lewis Bodi, 87
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Glen Cove, Long Island
The WWII veteran and former dean of York College-CUNY died after being burned by a kerosene lantern at his home. His 85-year-old wife Sally had been upstairs getting to bed when she heard her husband yell from downstairs, “I’m on fire!” She had made it downstairs to find her husband and the rug around him engulfed in flames. Lewis had a terrible tremor. Their story…
David Freberg, 36
Monday, November 12, 2012
Nissequogue, Long Island
A tree trimmer with South Carolina’s Patriot Tree Service was killed when he was struck in the head by a tree branch while trying to remove a tree that had been knocked over during the storm. He leaves behind a wife and three young children. His story…
Edith “Dee” Wright, 52
Monday, October 29, 2012
Montauk, Long Island
Reported missing by her family Monday night, her body washed up on the beach Tuesday morning. Police believe she was walking her dog along the ocean. Her story…
John “Jack” Miller, 39
Monday, October 29, 2012
Lloyd Harbor, Long Island
The asset manager was killed by a falling tree in his driveway while his family was evacuating. His wife wasn’t hurt and neither were their daughters, ages 5 and 3, who were in the car. His story…
Safar Shafinoori, 84
Monday, October 29, 2012
Roslyn, Long Island
Killed by a falling tree when he went outside to move his car.
Michael Fleming, 80
Monday, October 29, 2012
Bay Shore, Long Island
Died when he suffered a head injury after falling from his front stoop in the storm’s heavy winds. His story…
Nicholas Lourikas, 66
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Hauppauge, Long Island
While working to cut down storm-damaged trees with a chainsaw, he was hit in the head by a falling tree branch. The dangers of tree cutting have always been present, now with the best electric chainsaw equippment available for inexperienced, regular people, we all need to be more careful. His story…
Juan Granados, 20
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Garden City, Long Island
The motorcyclist was killed in a crash at an intersection where the traffic lights did not work. His girlfriend riding with him broke both of her arms.
Michelle Bracco, 44
Monday, November 5, 2012
Oceanside, Long Island
Died of carbon monoxide poisoning after running a gas generator out of a garage. Her story…
Santiago Diazde, 59
Thursday, November 8
Hempstead, Long Island
Struck by a car and killed while crossing a street where traffic lights were out.
Abigalo Piedraheta, 78
Friday, November 2, 2012
New Cassel, Long Island
Died after using a coal-burning grill inside her home, according to the authorities, who said the cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning.
Unidentified person
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Nassau Country, Long Island
Died of apparent carbon monoxide poisoning; the home’s carbon monoxide detector had been set off. The police did not release more details.
Elsewhere in New York
Jeffrey Chanin, 51
Monday, October 29, 2012
Pearl River, NY
The retired NYPD officer was killed and his family injured when a tree fell through the roof of their home and into the second floor living room where they were sitting together. His wife is in critical condition and his three teenage children sustained minor injuries. Their story…
Monday, October 29, 2012
Greenburgh, NY
Killed when the car he was driving crashed into a downed tree that had fallen across the highway. His story…
Jack Baumler, 11 and Michael Robson, 13
Monday, October 29, 2012
North Salem, NY
Neighbors playing together during the storm were killed instantly when an 100-foot oak tree fell into the living room of the Baumler home where they were hunkered down. Michael’s two siblings and Jack’s brother and mother suffered minor injuries but survived. Their story…
Doreen Richardson, 69
Monday, October 29, 2012
Kerhonkson, NY
The resort owner was driving around her property to assess the damage when a strong gust of wind snapped a large overhang off the front of a rental unit and sent it sailing more than 20 feet over the top of building, crash-landing onto her windshield. Her story…
James Stapleford, 75, and Eva Stapleford, 73
Unknown
Shokan, NY
The rest of their neighborhood had power, but they did not so they were using a generator. James was found dead in a basement-level garage, his body near a gasoline-powered generator and extension cords that ran to the home’s electrical panel. Eva was found at the bottom of the stairs leading down to the basement. Police believe she fell while trying to find her husband. They are believed to have been dead for at least two days. Their story…
New Jersey
William Sword, 61
Monday, October 29, 2012
Princeton, NJ
The investment banker was killed by a tree that fell as he cleared debris from his driveway. He had survived being stabbed 15 times in a home invasion in 2003. His story…
Bobby McDuffie, 47
Monday, October 29, 2012
Newark, NJ
Drowned while trying to move his car out of the way of the rising Passaic River. He had been working the night shift in the warehouse where he was employed, and he and his fellow coworkers had been warned to evacuate. They finally decided to leave when the street outside started flooding, but he never made it home. His story…
Bruce Latteri, 51
Monday, October 29, 2012
Jefferson, NJ
After he lost power in his house early in the night and got nervous when a tree fell in his driveway, he headed next door to a neighbor’s home to wait out the storm. They watched a movie and at 11pm, Bruce said he should go home. He was killed a few hours later when a tree crashed through his house, crushing him while he was sitting in a chair. His story…
Richard Everett, 54 and Elizabeth Everett, 48
Monday, October 29, 2012
Mendham, NJ
Husband and wife were killed when a 100-foot-tall, 3-foot-wide tree fell on their car. They were driving to their horse farm to prepare for the storm. Their sons, 14 and 11, were sitting in the backseat and sustained minor injuries. Their older daughters weren’t in the car. Their story…
Mudiwa Benson, 19 and Kenya Barber, 19
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Newark, NJ
The second cousins died in their sleep of carbon monoxide poisoning in their apartment building, which was being powered by a generator, placed too close to their bedroom window. Their story…
William Hardenburg, 67
Monday, November 5, 2012
Raritan Township, NJ
The emergency management coordinator was clearing damage from the storm in front of a home when he was struck by a passing vehicle and killed. His story…
Charlene Jordan, 70, and Edwin Jordan, 74
Friday, November 2, 2012
Willingboro, NJ
The husband and wife were victims of a house fire. There are conflicting reports as to whether a generator caused the fire and if their deaths were linked to Hurricane Sandy. Their story…
Lester Kaplan, 73
Friday, November 2
Found by fire rescue workers after his wife was unable to reach him four days after the storm. She was out of town attending nursing school and he had chosen to stay in his home and ride out the storm despite a mandatory evacuation order. He was found lying on the floor of his living room, hypothermic and near death in an unheated and flooded house. He died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Their story…
Mary Lou Viswat, 85
Tuesday, October 30
Middlesex, NJ
The former borough councilwoman died after falling down the cellar stairs in the dark. Her son, who lives next door with his family, found her the next morning after he hadn’t heard from her. Her story…
Eva-Maria Wilson, 79
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Berkeley Heights, NJ
Died after she fell down the stairs at her home due to lack of light. Despite there being no electricity or heat in her home for 10 days, she had been volunteering in the emergency room of a local hospital to help others affected by the storm. Her story…
Thomas Frey, 44
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Union Township, NJ
The community leader sustained severe head trauma while operating a chain saw to cut trees after the storm. His story…
Fletcher Fish, 77
Monday, October 29, 2012
Hawthorne, NJ
Killed when two trees simultaneously crashed into his house. His wife, who was with him in the upstairs room, was not seriously injured. His story…
Robert Walsh, 65
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Edison Township, NJ
The retired firefighter died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator running in his garage. His story…
Joseph Godleski, 69
Monday, October 29, 2012
South Hackensack, NJ
Drowned in the Hackensack River, which overflowed its banks. He had driven into the flood waters and drowned when he got out and tried to walk to dry land. He left his cane behind in the car. His story…
Mark “The Barber” Caramanna, 54
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Ortley Beach, NJ
His family’s home destroyed by the hurricane on Monday, Mark was only allowed to visit his barber shop on Saturday to survey the damage. Upon seeing that his business was also destroyed, he had a massive heart attack and died on the spot. His story…
Benjamin Harris, 83
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Hawthorne, NJ
Fell down a flight of stairs at his home after the electricity went out. His story…
Kimberly Smrkovsky, 25
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Little Egg Harbor, NJ
While helping her parents clean their home after the storm, Kimberly had an asthma attack and went into cardiac arrest. Mold is suspected as the cause of the attack. Her story…
Rafael Reyes, 55
Thursday, November 1, 2012
New Brunswick, NJ
Died in his kitchen from carbon monoxide poisoning. Authorities found a generator running in his basement. His story…
Vernie Mathison, 61
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
West Orange, NJ
His oxygen machine stopped working after the electricity went out. The authorities said the cause of death was respiratory failure.
Ernest Williams, 65
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Newark, NJ
Found in his home, where the electricity had gone out. The police said the cause of death was an asthma attack.
Maureen Caporino, 65
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Jersey City, NJ
Found dead in her apartment. Her oxygen machine no longer worked after the power went out. She had turned to bottled oxygen, which the police said either ran out or proved insufficient. Her story…
Alice Redzilow, 86
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Bayonne, NJ
Fell in her home while the power was out. The authorities said the cause of death was blunt impact injury. Her story…
Amadeo Guiterrez, 41
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
East Brunswick, NJ
The landscaper died while trimming a tree in the backyard of a residence that had partially fallen during the storm. A section of the tree broke loose and struck him. His story…
Lawrence E. Priddy Jr. 57 and Margaret Priddy, 78
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Middlesex, NJ
Mother and son died in a fire in their home. Lawrence was pronounced dead on the scene and Margaret died from her injuries later. The authorities said the fire might have been started by a candle. Their story…
Erwin Bockhorn, 72
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Despite efforts by his ex-wife and her fiancé to get him to leave as the storm was hitting the area, he chose not to evacuate. He drowned in his home. His story…
George Tatay, 61
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Brick, NJ
Found dead in his flooded house. The authorities said he drowned.
Celestine Kreitzer, 94
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Forked River, NJ
Found dead in her home, due to hypothermia.
Leonard Thompson, 71
Unknown
Stafford, NJ
Found dead in his home, due to hypothermia. He had ignored the mandatory evacuation, and had even refused to leave with police who came to his home before the storm on Monday, October 29.
Gracie Dunston, 59
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Trenton, NJ
Died in her home of carbon monoxide poisoning. Their electricity had gone out, so they were using a gas generator for power. The fumes, which were detected inside the home at more than three times the danger level, also sickened four children and three adults, who all survived. Her story…
Walter Schoepfer, 93
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Ventnor, NJ
Fell on the steps outside his home and struck his head Tuesday, October 30. He was taken to the hospital and died a week later. His story…
Bernice Sapp, 65
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Atlantic City, NJ
While being evacuated from her apartment to a shelter on the mainland a day before the storm, she went into cardiac arrest on the evacuation bus and died.
Unidentified man, 93
Unknown
Summit, NJ
Died in a fall at his home. He was found at the bottom of the stairs, and there was no electricity.
Unidentified man, 43
Unknown
Asbury, NJ
Died when a tree fell on him.
Unidentified man
Unknown
Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Found in dead in his destroyed home during a door-to-door search.
Unidentified man, 61
Unknown
Long Branch, NJ
Died of hypothermia. He was found wrapped in blankets, and there was no electricity in the home.
Unidentified man, 79
Unknown
Lambertville, NJ
Found dead in his home, where there was no electricity. The authorities said he fell and struck his head.
Unidentified man, 58
Unknown
Hamilton, NJ
Fell in the parking lot of the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital when he lost his balance as a result of a strong gust of wind.
Unidentified man, 55
Unknown
Edison, NJ
Died in his home of carbon monoxide poisoning. The authorities said he was operating a generator in an enclosed space.
Pennsylvania
Matthew Stahl, 8
Monday, October 29, 2012
Montrose, PA
When his father went to retrieve groceries from a neighbor, Matthew ran to check on the calves when he was killed by a tree knocked over by wind gusts. His story… | Donate to his memorial fund
Alice Hynes, 81
Monday, October 29, 2012
Upper Turkeyfoot, PA
The passenger in a car being driven by her daughter, Abigail, they lost control while driving on a slushy road and crashed into a small farm pond. Her daughter was unhurt and was able to free herself. She tried to free her mother, who was trapped underwater, but was unable. Her story…
Robert D. Mills, Jr., 17
Monday, October 29, 2012
Wind Gap, PA
Riding his new ATV during the storm, Robbie died after striking a fallen tree, throwing him from the vehicle. His story…
Lammert Hubertus Gerrit Roodhof, 66
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Albrightsville, PA
Died in his garage from carbon monoxide poisoning due to a portable generator. His granddaughter Ember was found with him. She was flatlined and brought back, and now has to learn how to walk and talk again. Ember’s mother and her grandmother, Lammert’s wife, found the two in the garage with the door closed. They almost died trying to resuscitate their loved ones. Their story…
Luther Fritzinger, 93
Unknown
Upper Macungie Township, PA
Found dead in his garage on Thursday, November 1. His cause of death is hypothermia due to prolonged exposure to the cold following power outages as a result of the storm.
Richard “Dick” Whitehead, 86
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Spring Township, PA
Died of carbon monoxide poisoning. His 86-year-old wife Pauline was also poisoned, but survived. They were found by their 15-year-old great-grandson. Their story…
Florence Pugliese, 90
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Upper Merion, PA
Died from carbon monoxide poisoning in the first-floor living room of her apartment from an emergency generator located in the garage below. Two other family members were evacuated safely from the home. They had been sleeping on the third floor, farther away from the garage.
Jerome J. Tyson, 38
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Lynn Township, PA
He was struck in the head by a falling tree while trying to cut it down following the storm. His story…
Theresa Schlitzer, 86
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
South Whitehall Township, PA
Died of hypothermia in her yard after prolonged exposure to the storm. Her story…
Tammy Kerosetz, 48
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Lower Macungie Township, PA
Overcome by exhaust fumes from a portable gas generator running inside her garage, she died due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Her story…
Thomas Unger, 67
Friday, November 2, 2012
Lehigh Township, PA
Clearing debris from his property, he died when he was run over by a tractor. His story…
Ann Bush
Unknown
Honesdale, PA
Became distraught after a tree fell on her home and committed suicide.
Anita Giovinco, 88
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Beach Lake, PA
A lack of light from a power outage caused her to fall while walking down a flight of steps.
Gerald Witman, 62
Monday, October 29, 2012
Pike Township, PA
Killed when a 60-foot pine tree fell onto his house. He was standing on the porch between taking the dogs outside for a walk and putting gas in the generator. His wife was inside the house, but was not injured. His story…
Connecticut
Jet Krumwiede, 21
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Milford, CT
Drowned after he was tossed from his kayak while paddling in Long Island Sound near Charles Island in the choppy waters and turbulent tides created by the approaching storm. His body wasn’t recovered by police until Monday, November 5. His story…
Olga Raymond, 90
Monday, October 29, 2012
Mansfield, CT
After the top of a pine tree snapped and fell onto her roof, two neighbors and a friend went to help her. “I’m out of here,” she told them as she stepped out her front door, flashlight in hand. They only made it a few steps before a large oak tree uprooted and fell toward on them, bringing the power line with it. Two others were injured, one seriously. Her story…
Russell Neary, 55
Monday, October 29, 2012
Easton, CT
The volunteer firefighter who died returning from a structure fire call when powerful winds sent a tree crashing down on his fire truck. His story…
Brian Bakunas, 34
Monday, October 29, 2012
Milford, CT
Last seen jumping off a pier to swim in the heavy surf, his body was found in the Long Island Sound two days later. The seas were too rough for emergency personnel to conduct a search the night he went missing.
Michael J. Pranulis, 53
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Middlebury, CT
The landscaper was up in a tree cutting it when something went wrong and he got entangled in the tree as it fell more than 40 feet to the ground. He had been helping with the cleanup effort after the storm. His story…
New Hampshire
Eugene “Rusty” Brooks, 42
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Lincoln, NH
The construction company owner died in a landslide while checking a job site. Police say he was between a dirt cellar hole filled with water and a pile of rocks when the earth gave way and buried him in mud and stone. He was washed down the equivalent of a two-to-three-story incline. His story…
Maryland
Donald Cannata Sr., 74
Monday, October 29, 2012
Pasadena, MD
The retired civil engineer who had helped design abutments for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge died after a tree weighing 20 tons fell on his house and tore through the kitchen as he stood at the sink. His story…
Mai Ai Lam-Phan, 66
Monday, October 29, 2012
Germantown, MD
Died when her car was hit by another car that skidded on standing water from the storm. Her story…
Santiago Lopez, 50
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Annapolis, MD
The contractor, part of a crew working to remove fallen trees in a waterfront community affected by the storm, was killed by a falling tree. His son was working with him and witnessed his death. His story… | Donations for his family to cover funeral costs
Unidentified man, 80s
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Near Oakland, MD
Died of a heart attack while shoveling snow.
Virginia
Keith D. Fordham, 52 and Michael T. Overton, 51
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Richmond, VA
Their car failed to navigate a left turn and hit a light pole and two trees, killing Keith, the driver, and passenger Michael. Speed was a factor in the accident, as well as rain and wet pavement. Their story…
West Virginia
Patricia Cogar, 71
Unknown
Sugar Creek, WV
Found Wednesday beneath three feet of snow on her gravel driveway. Family members had been clearing the driveway when they discovered her body. They believe she had gone outside to feed her dogs. She was last known alive on Monday, October 29.
June Jones, 88
Monday, October 29 or Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Crab Orchard, WV
Died of apparent hypothermia. Her story…
Mark Riffle, 51
Unknown
Arlington, WV
When he went to his garage to refuel the generator and didn’t return, his wife, Darlene, went to check on him and found him unresponsive. He died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
John Rose Sr, 60
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Philippi, WV
A Republican candidate for the West Virginia Legislature by a falling tree branch as he checked the fences of his deer farm. It is too late to remove his name from the ballot. His story…
Nanci Hedrick, 40
Monday, October 29, 2012
Davis, WV
Died when her car slid into the path of a cement truck. Her story…
Unidentified woman, 68
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Preston County, WV
Attempting to drive herself to the hospital for a health emergency, her car got stuck in the snow and she was stranded. She died there.
North Carolina
Claudine Christian, 42 and Robin Walbridge, 63
Monday, October 29, 2012
At sea, NC
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 14 crew members of the HMS Bounty from rough waters off the coast of Cape Hatteras. Claudine was unresponsive when she was pulled from the water near where the ship went down. The ship eventually sank in about 8,000 feet of water. Robin had been the captain of the HMS Bounty for 17 years. The search for his body has been suspended. Their story…
Jody Alan Davis, 25
Monday, October 29, 2012
Dobson, NC
Killed when his car hit a downed tree. His story…
Ohio
Tina Goodwin, 56
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Near Toledo, OH
Died after losing control of her car on an ice-covered bridge. Her car went left of center and struck a pickup truck going in the opposite direction. She was not wearing her seatbelt. Her story…
Dustin Brown, 22
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Putnam County, OH
Died after hitting a van on an icy road. Both the driver and passenger of the van suffered minor injuries. Dustin’s wife Brittany is expecting a baby girl in December. His story... | Donate for his future daughter
Canada
Mike Leach, 47
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Sarnia, Ontario
The lineman was on the job fixing downed power lines from the storm when he was electrocuted. His story…
Unidentified woman, 50s
Monday, October 29, 2012
Toronto, Ontario
Found dead with head trauma near the base of a Staples store sign mounted on a pole that towered over the parking lot. The sign flew off in the storm’s strong winds. Officials are investigating whether it was properly installed and maintained. Her family is requesting that her name not be released. Her story…
Internationally
Let us not forget the devastation in the Caribbean, especially in Haiti where they haven’t yet recovered from the earthquake two years ago. 69 people died across the region with 54 in Haiti and 11 in Cuba. Again, the numbers don’t do it justice, but news of individual deaths with names identified is particularly hard in that part of the world. If anyone knows of any detailed sources, please do share them with us.
Haiti
Unidentified woman, 40s
Unknown
Camp-Perrin, Haiti
Died attempting to cross a flooding river in the Ravine du Sud. Her story…
Timothy Fraser-Smith, 63
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Lyford Cay, Bahamas
The British investment bank CEO fell from the roof of his home in an exclusive gated community, just outside the capital Nassau, as he tried to fit a shutter as protection against the advancing storm. His wife was home at the time but was unharmed. His story…
How Can I Help
If you have the means, please donate time, clothes, food, blood, money to any organization you can find that is sending support to the effected regions. And if you wish to stay up to date on the impact of Hurricane Sandy, you can follow me on Twitter for photos of the destruction, news of relief efforts and ways you can help.
Most of all, I implore you to keep your hearts and minds open to those who lost their lives and lost their everything. Please do not allow your desire for normalcy to become apathy for those who need you now. Thank you.
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I am totally overwhelmed with sadness and grief … your dedication to research the details of the untimely storm-related deaths of so many people who would have otherwise remained a statistic, blows my mind; what an amazing act of kindness and compassion … you are amazing … God Bless you Whitney Hess for all your efforts in reminding us just how fragile life is.
i m so sorry for those people.
i want to ask if some one can help me
i didnt have any news from my friend from 01/11/2012
his name is habib hamada he live in new york
Thank you so much for making these deaths anything but a statistic. My mom lost her house and all of her possessions, but thankfully she heeded the mandatory evacuation, she (and her 4 pups) is alive and well. Her neighbors are amongst some of those listed from Midland Beach. Thank you so much for your time and effort to put a face and a story to every name. These were real people, and we need to mourn them as such.
Thank you for compiling this and putting names and faces to the casualties.
My second cousin Jack Chin died from diabetic shock in Chinatown when his sister could not get help because Chinatown, like most of lower Manhattan, had no power, no phone service, no Internet. My cousin Mary had no way to summon help early in the morning, when there were no police, no fire alarms, no one to get help. Jack died November 1. There is still no phone service in lower Manhattan. And according to Verizon, no service expected till December, over a month since the storm.
Betty, I am so deeply sorry for your loss. My condolences to the entire family.
Via: http://gothamist.com/2012/11/14/parking_garage_boss_ordered_man_to.php
I’d like to bring to light that Anthony Narh’s death was a complete tragedy and a social injustice. I hope you update his story to clearly state that his death was due to the irresponsible and inhumane orders of his employer.
Yes, Irina, I made sure to note that in his story, which I updated yesterday (Saturday 11/17). I used The Nation as my source.
Thank you for sharing all of this information, and for taking the time to honor all of these people. I started reading, but have only made it through about 25%….I will be back to read the rest. I have also set up a fundraising page to collect donations for Hurricane Sandy relief.
Ocean County Police Blotter
November 8
#njsandy 4 deaths in Ocean County attributed to Sandy
Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford released the following information concerning the four people whose lives were lost in connection with “Superstorm Sandy” in Ocean County.
“Our thoughts are with these families”, the prosecutor said.
1. Celestine Kreitzer (94 years old)
633 Oakwood Drive
Forked River, NJ
Date of Birth: 5-25-18
Pronouncement Date / Time: 10-30-12 / 1435 hours.
Cause of Death: Hypothermia
2. George Tatay
139 Vanard Drive
Brick, NJ
Date of Birth: 5-19-51
Pronouncement Date / Time: 10-30-12 / 1701 hours.
Cause of Death: Asphyxia due to drowning
3. Erwin Bockhorn
107 South Forte Castle Drive
Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Date of Birth: 5-3-40
Pronouncement Date / Time: 10-30-12 / 1130 hours
Cause of Death: Drowning
4. Leonard Thompson
1092 Walter Blvd.
Stafford, NJ
Date of Birth: 4-15-41
Pronouncement Date / Time: 10-31-12 / 2146 hours
Cause of Death: Hypothermia due to exposure to cold conditions
Thank you, Kim. These four are already on my list. I appreciate the detailed information.
Thank you for all the time you spent putting this list together. Some of the causes of death make me think I need to put things into priority and to prepare for disaster (though I feel selfish even writing that in the wake of the loss). So sad!
You have done a beautiful thing in honoring these people and their memories.
So moving to hear all the ways in which people died, really makes you think about each of the individual losses.
Thanks for allway updating this side.
My girlfriend is still missing and at this time its almost hard to get actuell news. So i keep wathing this side and hope i wouldnt seen her here so far…
Every lost life is hard but doesnt know anything is horrible…
https://www.facebook.com/JerseyShoreHurricaneNews/posts/420353234686232
Raymond SmithJersey Shore Hurricane News
November 9 at 3:12pm ·
A reader has asked us to share the following…Ms. Smrkovsky passed during the cleanup process, helping her parents clean their home. According to the reader, she went into cardiac arrest after having an asthma attack helping them clean their home. Mold is suspected as the cause of the attack.
Be careful with exposure to the mold…wear a mask, and open all windows…
Joshua is the best and You too! :-} :-]
Hi, I just wanted to view the list of victims on Staten Island as i have never seen one. I am a storm survivor, I ran for my life from the surging tide on S.I. I just want to tell everyone that I put my experiences in a song called “The Surge” that my new group ARCTA has just recorded in a mad rush to finish by Xmas. It was just something I could do, having lost a lot and seeing what others went through. It has gone out to local NYC radio stations and they REALLY need to play this song! Like Q104 or 107 The Peak. A lot went into its making and it tells it like it is. The only other way to hear “The Surge” is to download it on iTunes, sorry, but you can also try calling one of the rock radio stations in NYC—they ALL have been mailed the CD single. Thanks.
How can you use this as an opportunity to promote yourself?
I find that highy inappropriate.
I want to thank you Whitney for the effort of putting this list up.
Carla
Thank you for taking the time to remember the lives of these many people. My heart goes out to their families.
i’m like many who were away from home for weeks at a time. i am only now catching up on the details of what happened. i’ve finally watched the weather report broadcast on u-tube. i’m from belle harbor, so i have seen my share of devistation. i go to a group support meeting. it is/was such a mind bending event that i confess i am only now thinking of the final details. i’m only now beginning to wonder if i knew anyone who had died. i had heard about that surfer hero, about how he had gone out his window on his surfboard to rescue the family across the street from their burning house. that was originally the happy story. i realize i am calling this list of the dead “details”. but believe me i don’t feel like they are “details”. thank you so much for posting this. it is truly amazing how far reaching the storm was. thank you again. we need to remember them. amendment… i need to remember them.
Thank you for taking the time to do this. Its such a shame to see the deaths this storm cost. My fathers barber was one of them and I just recently found out. My heart goes out to all the victims and family months after this devastation.
This list has been truly touching as well as informative. I’m writing an essay for school about Hurricane Sandy, and this truly puts faces to the stories. Wow.. I hope everyone keeps the Sandy victims in their prayers.
you are missing some victims from South NJ. One of them being a 4 year old boy.
The reason people died in basements is that right before the storm surge the radio said to not be on upper floors near the roof to avoid trees that could fall on the house. Also people were advised not to leave during the storm. I heard this in brighton beach brooklyn ny as I waited for the storm surge to hit. I didn’t evacuate since hurricane irene did nothing and no buses were provided to evacuate and trains stopped running. For irene buses to evacuate were provided but not for hurricane sandy.
Hansberger said the region also added higher insulating material levels and larger air conditioning to make the laboratories more comfortable.
Thank you for posting. This has been an ongoing nightmare with no relief for my mother and I. My Brother resided all his life in Staten Island in Townsend Blvd. He moved in August to a new apartment in Staten Island 30 days before his birthday which is in September. When mom and I went to surprise him on his birthday in September, he was no longer at his old address because the owner was selling the property. We know he moved somewhere in Staten Island. It has been 9 months since this storm devastated Staten Islanders. We are hopeful he is still alive but he remains missing. If anyone in Staten Island knows William Gonzalez aka Willy the Mechanic. Please email me with Willy on the subject line to [email protected]
Thank you Whitney for all your work, this is very touching. How do I email you?
that is really nice for you to do this. Sorry I don’t have any money to donate.
Here’s a great man who passed after this article was published: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Sandy-Damaged-Tree-Falls-Brick-Man-180626591.html
This list serves so many purposes. Each person deserves to be honored and your hard work reminds us of this. My deepest condolences to those who remain behind to mourn them. My prayers for those who were lost, Reading the way in which each was lost should serve as a reminder to us not to take our safety for granted and to be so respectful of the powers of nature. Read each of these if you can and realize these people all thought they were innocently doing something wise or merely carrying out acts the rest of us might have to get through this storm, or check on their neighbors, save their loved ones, or clean up, or assess damage. Nature prevailed in one way or another, directly or indirectly. Because we were safe the last time, doesn’t mean we will be safe the next. Honor these people, respect nature, honor the safety workers and first responders by thinking through your plan for safety and getting yourself into safety mode as soon as possible before the unpredictable happens. It may be a “false alarm” to some degree, but many of these people were lost by circumstances that could have happened even if Sandy or Irene were not as powerful and menacing as they were. May they rest in peace and may your loss be lessened by the wonderful memories left behind.
Beautiful, beautiful memorial – bless you!
Such an important tribute. A tragic reminder One storm doesn’t mean all storms will follow suit.