2015 12
Mario Pedro, 34, family man who enjoyed reading the Daily News
Mario Pedro picked up a copy of the Philadelphia Daily News every single day. He devoured the newspaper front-to-back, learning about everything happening in the city. “Every day he made sure he went to the store and got him a Daily News,” Cheryl Pedro, Mario’s mother, remembered. “He just loved to read the whole paper.” […]
Karon “KP” Payne, 21, Presbyterian Hospital worker with dreams of going to medical school
Karon Payne went by the nickname “KP.” Based on the life he lived, KP could have meant “’Keep Pushing.” No matter how cliché it sounds, this young man was on his way to a promising future. Karon was a person of strong character who did not get caught up in street life, said his mother, […]
Amir Izeel Pinkney, 19, had ‘a smile that took everything away’
To his grandmother, Amir Izeel Pinkney will always be a baby in some ways—his image forever one of unadulterated earnestness, unabashed kindness and squished bread. A 3-year old Amir held the bread anytime the two went shopping. Looking up to his grandma, he’d grin ear to ear, his grip on the loaf tight and clammy […]
Khyree Dyches, 21: ‘We were really tight, he was my dog’
Khyree Dyches and his cousin grew up watching his grandfather build anything he could think of, whether it was redoing the kitchen, making wooden African statues or sewing clothes. “We’d help him paint, he taught us how to sew, and we were always learning,” said Khyree’s cousin Asia. “He always taught us stuff.” Since they […]
Saleem West, 16: ‘Basketball was his whole life’
Acquanetta A. Sutton never thought she’d be a mother. Doctors told her she would not be able to bear children, but she ultimately proved them wrong. On July 25, 1999, after 30 hours of labor, Acquanetta gave birth to her only child, Saleem West. “He was my miracle baby,” she said. “He changed my whole […]
Jovanni Oyola, 19: ‘Whatever it took to get you to smile’
Jovanni Oyola always danced and sang at parties in his North Philadelphia neighborhood. Family members like his uncle Wilfredo Pedraza knew they could rely on Jovanni to provide entertainment at these gatherings. “Jovanni lit up the room with a song and dance, he’d tell jokes, or do whatever it took to get you to smile,” […]
DeAndre Bing, 17, college-bound senior who took a selfie with his mom every morning
Tiffany Williams didn’t think she would be a mother. When she was about 17, she became pregnant but lost the baby. After that, she was told she wouldn’t be able to sustain a healthy pregnancy in the future, but about eight years later, she found out that wasn’t true. DeAndre, her only child, was born […]
Paris Wright, 21, never got to meet his daughter
Paris Wright was looking forward to being a father, but it would never come to be. On Jan. 29, 2014, at five months pregnant, his girlfriend’s water broke and she lost their baby, whom they planned to name Paris. “Even though he was young, I was excited because he was excited,” his mother, Crystal Wright, […]
Aasir Davis, 20, a playful soul with 4 jobs, if you count “watching” dishes
Aasir Mikell Davis had three part-time jobs: Forever 21, BJ’s Wholesale and an Amazon warehouse. His mother, Rovella Davis, worked for the state and encouraged him to apply for a full-time clerical position, which offered good benefits more stability. The plan was for him to go into work with his mom, fill out an application, […]
Stephanie Dzikowski, 22, a young mother and dental technician
When Stephanie Dzikowski was pregnant, she learned that the baby girl growing inside her had a rare congenital disorder called gastrochisis. Her intestines and other internal organs were outside of her body, making for a potentially difficult birth. Stephanie wanted to learn all she could about this condition, so she made it the topic of […]
Nacear Gredic, 20, loved dancing on roller skates and listening to oldies
It wasn’t unusual to find Nacear Gredic dancing on roller skates. The 20-year-old was known for his playful energy and could never resist a dance or a twirl on his skates. “He couldn’t get serious. For nothing in the world, I have never seen him serious about anything,” Johndell Gredic, Nacear’s mother, said. “He played […]
Alex Rojas-Garcia, 34, Temple student, fisherman, award-winning poet
Alejandro “Alex” Rojas-Garcia and his sister had a special bond. They were seven years apart in age, and when they were younger, they’d play silly games together. “We’d jump from couch to couch and pretend our dog was a shark,” 30-year-old Aleida Silva Garcia said with a laugh. She believed everything her brother said, including […]
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