By Gus Saltonstall
Jason Negron had just finished up his shift as a doorman at an Upper West Side building on Friday evening when he headed over to meet friends at West 109th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.
Negron had worked for the last 20 years at 545 West 110th Street, just off the corner of Broadway. That Friday, tragically, would be his last shift, as shortly after Negron joined his friends on West 109th, a drunk driver in a Mercedes-Benz hopped the curb onto the sidewalk, killing Negron and Michael Saint-Hilaire and badly injuring three other people, according to police.
“He’ll be dearly missed,” Johnny Guervara, the super of the building, who hired Negron, told West Side Rag over the phone. “I hired him 20 years ago, and when I hired him, he had no experience, but I said, ‘Don’t worry.’ We were opening a brand-new building, and I said, ‘We are going to work it out, we will learn together and I will teach you what I know.’ He became a number one doorman. Reliable. Always on time.”
“He was one to never take off work, only if he needed to be with his family,” Guervara added. “When he would go out with his daughters, he would tell me about going to places like Comic Con. Those are the only times he took off. There were years I would have to pay him his sick time because he was so dedicated to being at the building.”
Negron leaves behind his wife, Jackie, and two daughters.
In the aftermath of Negron’s death, residents of 545 West 110th Street launched a GoFundMe for his family, which had raised $45,000 as of Monday afternoon; according to the site, all funds “go to supporting Jason’s family.”
Multiple residents spoke to the Rag about how beloved Negron was within the building.
“With a wife and two children, Jason obviously meant so much to them, but he also meant a lot to the people in our building. He was such a lovely, sweet, kind guy,” said Betsy West, who has lived in the building for 20 years with her husband, Oren Jacoby. “He engaged with everybody. He found a way to connect with so many of us in the building. He’s a friend. He watched our daughter grow up and go off to school. Recently, he was talking about his daughter going off to college and how proud of her he was.”
Heather Cox, who has lived in the 110th Street building for the last 13 years, told the Rag that “she couldn’t believe it” when she heard the news of Negron’s passing.
“I kept reading the email sent to the building over and over. It didn’t compute. We had just seen him the day before, and he had just gotten off work on that day. It was just unfathomable,” Cox said. “Many residents then immediately went downstairs and talked with Marcos, who had come in for the next doorman shift. The nature of that role as doorman as a gatekeeper — it’s very personal, yet professional. It’s a unique relationship, and Jason was always there for us.”
Residents of the address have set up a vigil for Negron in the lobby, including multiple personal notes.
“We couldn’t believe it,” West said about her family’s immediate reaction. “My husband just kept saying, ‘I just talked to him. That’s impossible.’ Obviously, dealing with death is never easy, but just the randomness and suddenness of this, just felt so wrong.”
Negron was born and raised on the Upper West Side and lived a short distance from the building where he worked.
“The rough part for me is that I wasn’t there,” said Guervara, who described Negron as like a family member. “I was in Puerto Rico. I spoke to Jason three times that day because I had workers in the building. When I found out, I couldn’t believe it. Shocked. No way. As soon as someone told me there had been an accident, I tried calling him. No answer. I sent him a text. Just one word, ‘Jason.’ No answer.”
“I’ve seen Jason on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday for 20 years,” Guervara added. “He’ll be truly missed here. I’m going to miss him. The residents will miss him. And it will be more than me missing him as his boss, or the residents missing him as their doorman. We will all be missing a friend.”
You can find the fundraiser for Negron’s family — HERE.
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Jason truly was a kind and wonderful man and will be sorely missed.
I am so sorry for Jason’s family and his friends. Reading all the lovely tributes to him, such a terrible tragedy to happen to a lovely man. May he RIP.
I grew up in the building where Jason worked and I am so so devastated to hear about his passing. Even as a little girl Jason was always my favorite, he was the most consistent, the most helpful, always said the right thing, warm, calm, and truly reliable. I know my entire family feels the same way. My family left the building, but we stayed in the neighborhood, every time I’d walk past 545 and see Jason at the desk he’d give me a big wave or we’d say a quick hello. He was the best. He has made such an impact on me and my family and made leaving the building and our childhood home that much harder.
Knowing what I know about Jason, I’m sure he was the best dad and husband and friend. I’m so sorry for such a massive loss. Thinking of his entire community right now and sending them a lot of love.
My heart breaks for his wife and daughters. NYC doormen are a breed apart. They’re our superheroes, protectors, sherpas, wingmen, forever helping in quiet ways, always looking out for people — whether they live in the building or not. Such a sad story. Stay safe out there…
I know how much the doormen/concierges at my building contribute to my life; their kindness, help with chores, add to my day with our talks. I understand the loss and grief at this terrible death at the hands of an irresponsible person. I intend to contribute to his gofundme. His family need all the help they can get.
My deepest condolences to his family and all who loved him. What a terrible loss, what a tragic, unnecessary, random loss brought on by an intoxicated lack of care for others. No one should EVER be behind the wheel while intoxicated and put themselves and everyone else in danger. My heart goes out to all who were impacted by this awful incident.
How very sad. He clearly had a positive influence on many people’s lives.
Was Jason the son of the late Julio Negron?
What a wonderful kind gentle soul. This breaks our heart.
I’m an Upper West Side resident, and even though I didn’t know Jason ….or live in the building…….. I’d like to extend my sincere condolences to his family. This was a horrible tragedy. I’ve read all the tributes and comments, and he truly sounded like a wonderful person. What’s important now is that we support his family, as best we can, especially financially. I will be donating to the family’s Go Fund Me page and I hope that those of you who can…..will do the same. RIP Jason.
Not as bad as the 70’s.
I’m a resident on west 111th, just around the corner from where Jason worked. I’m so so sorry for your unfathomable loss. My heart is with you all, family, friends and residents alike.
So sad what happened to a good innocent man like that. Anyone caught driving drunk should lose their license for a decade before they hurt anybody.
I hope an attorney brings a lawsuit against the murderer and gets a big settlement for the family. Please keep us updated.