The above image, Marcos Malave, was created by artist Guy Kiernan as part of the 2021-2022 Souls Shot Portrait Project exhibition.
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Nearly every morning, Marcos Malave would make the 10-minute walk to the house that his mother and sister shared in North Philadelphia so they could have breakfast together on the porch.
“Coffee, toast and butter—that was his thing,” said Annie Ramos, who was born one year and 19 days after her brother.
After Marcos died of gunshot wounds on Sept. 17, 2016, this simple ritual is what his mother, Nereida Malave, missed most.
“I would sit on the porch in the morning with my cup of coffee waiting for him to come up the street,” she said. “Sometimes I actually would see him coming, but of course it wasn’t him.”
Marcos was born May 19, 1984 in Philadelphia to Nereida and Marcos Malave Sr. His stepfather was Luis Candelaria.
Marcos and Annie grew up like twins since they were so close in age, and their tight bond remained throughout their lives.
Marcos with his son and daughter.
“Every time he’d come in my house, he’d lick his finger then put it in my ear,” Annie recalled with a chuckle. “He had a bubbly personality and always made people laugh.”
Marcos was a graduate of Thomas Alva Edison High School. At the time of his death, he was helping a friend fix up houses, but before that, he worked at the Tastykake factory until it closed in 2010. His favorites were the chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing.
Family meant everything to Marcos. Not just his immediate family, but he cherished his extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins, too. He would never hesitate to help in any way he could if someone needed him.
“He was a very helpful and kindhearted person,” Nereida said. “No matter what anyone needed, he was there.”
He had two kids, a 17-year-old son, Romeo, and a 12-year-old daughter, Anjanae. Nereida credits his Anjanae’s mother, Toni, with being a positive influence on him, giving him that extra push to stay motivated and work hard.
Nereida sees Marcos in both of his children.
“His son has his complexion and his features, and he can also be stubborn like him when he wants to be,” she said. “His daughter has his joker side. She likes to joke around a lot just like her father.”
Every month on the 17th, his family goes to the cemetery to visit his grave. No arrests have been made in Marcos’ murder.
“I want him to be remembered as the kind person that he was,” she said. “I want him to be remembered for the love he had for his children and his family. He was a good person.”
A reward of up to $20,000 if available to anyone that comes forward with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Marcos’ death. Anonymous calls can be submitted by calling the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS.
Date: 2016-09-17
Location: 3400 N. 6th St, Philadelphia, PA
Here are some additional comments from his family:
I’m gonna love and miss you, dad. – Romeo
He was a loving dad and caring. – Anjanae
If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be where I am today and for that I thank you bro. I’m riding until the wheels fall off. – Bry
Pito, as he was known, was loved dearly and had a pure heart. He will forever be loved and missed. – Junito
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