In the past week, we received notes about Upper West Siders who have recently passed away.
Valding Duran, the 13-year-old boy hit by a cab on 108th street and Manhattan Avenue on July 20 was taken off of life support on Monday, July 28, NYPD Capt. Marlon Larin tells us. One commenter wrote in to say that he was Valding’s teacher and that he was a “fun kid to be around.” Classmates also posted comments on our original story. Thanks to everyone who sent in recommendations for neurosurgeons.
Leonard Belzer, the brother of actor Richard Belzer, died in an apparent suicide after jumping from his building at 250 West 94th street, police told the Daily News. Leonard was an Air Force vet and an author, and neighbors told the Daily News that he loved to take in cultural activities throughout the city. One reader also wrote in to say he had seen Leonard recently: “I met him once at Manhattan Diner a few months ago – he appeared troubled. A friend of his who was sitting by him said something similar to what was quoted in the News article: since his wife passed, he wasn’t “the same.” He looked just like his brother. Very sad.”
Eric Smith, a homeless man who often camped out in front of the stores on Broadway between 79th and 80th street, died on August 1, Francine tells us. She posted the following on her Facebook wall:
“Eric Smith died yesterday, August 1, 2014. Up until 9:30 PM on 8/1/14 I didn’t even know his last name. He was just Eric, the friendly, bearded, older homeless black gentleman who camped out on Broadway mid- block between 79th and 80th, always said “good morning” and smiled, and was most appreciative for any food you purchased for him/gave him as long as it didn’t have pork in it and he could easily chew with the few teeth he had left. He was a Pepsi drinker and an avid reader of whatever newspaper he got his hands on as was apparent by the multiple times I spotted him sitting on a milk crate engrossed in a story. I’m certain his life wasn’t a picnic; you don’t end up dying in the doorway of a shop on Broadway overnight if you’ve lived a charmed and easy life, but despite his hardships apparently he was appreciated as evidenced by the small sidewalk memorial set up in his honor by local merchants whose stores he sat in front of every day. His absence as a fixture on the Upper West Side will be noted.”
Francine says that a note on the memorial asks for donations to help pay for a burial for Eric Smith.
Oh, this is heartbreaking. I am so, so sad and sending thoughts to the family and friends of each of these Upper West Siders but especially Valding Duran.
Eric, was a kind and harmless homeless man who was a fixture on the block. Use to hold the doors for patrons at H&H, or just sit on his milk crate. He died from a stroke Friday, July 26 to be exact (he was in his early 50’s). His friends were able to secure a local funeral home that would assist with a burial and an inexpensive headstone. Info on donations maybe retrieved from James, his friend, who sits on the side of the the church on 79 street.
this is all sad.
I often saw Leonard Belzer on the street. He was a striking looking man and looked an awful lot like his brother. For years i wondered who he was, since he had the look of “someone famous” but i never could put my finger on it. I’m sorry that I never got to talk to him.
these three lives seem to represent the panoply of our neighbors on the UWS. This sort of posting by WSR “humanizes” these lives. I was particularly glad to see that Eric Smith was included, as the homeless so often get demonized, and we can forget that they are our neighbors. Francine’s remembrance speaks volumes.
Of course the accidental death of a 13 year old boy is particularly sad.
Condolences to all the family members and friends.
I remember Eric Smith. At H&H and that general area afterwards. In fact when H&H closed, we said, “Wait… what’s the homeless guy gonna do now?” I remember he sat there in front of the closed H&H for weeks after. You’ve probably given him more awareness (not to mention a name) and brought his life more to the forefront than ever before. He won’t die as ‘some homeless guy’ now. No matter how much his circumstances created that moniker.
A funeral for Eric Smith will be held today 18 November at:
The Owens Funeral Home
216 Lenox Avenue at 121st Street
Service begins at 11:00 A.M.