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CENTRAL FLORIDA
SCOTT SPAR
PUBLISHER
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t could have been any of us. Living in Orlando, and working as the publisher of Next Central Florida magazine, I have been to Pulse Nightclub dozens of times. So I could have been inside that fateful Sunday morning last month when the largest massacre in recent U.S. history unfolded. Instead, I was on the outside looking in. The entire LGBT community, living in Orlando or across the globe, remains shocked, unnerved, and groping for words to express our sorrow for the victims of this tragedy. To their families, I send my condolences, joining millions from around the world. My mind is full of rage, sadness and sorrow. I am numb as I struggle to find the strength to accept what is unacceptable. I have never thought of myself as someone who lacks courage, but now find myself needing to dig deep to move forward, united with my LGBT brothers and sisters. During the past few weekends, Pride festivals have seen attendance grow--Wilton Manors and St. Petersburg among them. We as a community found the strength to stand proud and tall in unity. For the victims who died, and the survivors who lived, we have become their voice by joining these festivals in record numbers. We were not be there to party, but rather to remember, and celebrate our togetherness as we rebuild our lives in the weeks and months that follow. In this, our July issue of Next Central Florida, we reflect on our triumph in the face of this adversity. It is the least we can do for those who perished, and the best way to honor those who did not. United we stand.
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Scott Spar Publisher Next Central Florida
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THE
WE
US REMEMBER We remember the 49 victims of Orlando by listing their names and compiling their photographs. BY RICHARD HACK
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INMEMORIAM ORLANDO
p Stanley Manolo p Amanda Almodovar III, 23
Stanley worked as a pharmacy technician at Avella Specialty Pharmacy. According to his friend Isis Perez, he was known for his quick smile, his fierce gaze, and his ability to charm anyone with his infectious laugh.
p Antonio Davon Brown, 29 Antonio was a Captain in the Army Reserves and was deployed in Kuwait five years ago. He was a 2008 graduate of Florida A&M University. He worked as a Human Resources manager at Lowe’s in Fern Park since 2015.
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Alvear, 25
Amanda went to Pulse nightclub with her bestfriend Mercedez Marisol Flores. They took refuge in the bathroom during the attack. Alvear posted a horrifying Snapchat video of the first moments of gunfire erupting at the club. Both she and Flores were killed.
p Rodolfo Aracena-Montero, 26 Ayala-Ayala, 33
p Oscar A.
Oscar lived with his lover Simon A. Carrillo in a home they purchased together last year. The pair had recently returned from a vacation to Niagara Falls, and were celebrating their homecoming at Pulse. Both men died in the attack.
Rodolfo worked as a biologic assistant at OneBlood Donation Centers. Ironically, OneBlood saw a line-up of donors in the wake of the attack on Pulse nightclub. Rodolfo was originally from San German, Puerto Rico, and sent monthly checks back to the island to help support relatives.
p Angel L. p Darryl p Juan Candelario-Padro, 28 Chevez-Martinez, 25 Roman Burt II, 29 Known for his colorful bow ties, Darryl wore one to Pulse to celebrate a night on the town in Orlando. He was a financial aid advisor at Keiser University in Jacksonville.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Angel had just recently moved to Florida from Chicago. He was only days away from beginning his new career as an ophthalmic technician at the Florida Retina Institute.
A native of Huichapan, Mexico, Juan was a housekeeping supervisor at the Reunion Resorts in Kissimmee. He was the youngest of six children.
WEREMEMBER
p Luis Daniel
p Cory James
Coupled with partner Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, Luis was happiest when he was providing excellent personal care at this hair salon and spa. Luis and Juan died in each other’s arms.
Cory was a student at Valencia Community College, and was celebrating his 21st birthday with his girlfriend and a dozen other classmates. He worked at Publix Supermarket. His girlfriend was wounded in the shooting but is expected to recover.
p Peter O.
p Juan Ramon
p Paul Terrell
p Frank
Peter O. GonzalezCruz, Ommy to his friends, worked for UPS. He went to the Pulse nightclub with his buddy, 25-year-old Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez. Both men were killed in the attack.
Juan Guerrero worked as a telemarketer and attended UCF. He had plans to marry his longtime partner Christopher “Drew” Leinonen. They were reported to be slain by the same bullet.
Originally from Chicago, Paul had two children. A religous man, Paul held a master’s degree in business from Florida State University and a theological degree.
Originally from Lafayette, Lousiana, Frank Hernandez worked for Calvin Klein.His partner Brett Rigas, 30 was struck by a bullet but managed to escape the bar. Frank was lost in the crowd, and later confirmed to be among the victims.
Conde, 39
Gonzalez-Cruz, 22
Connell, 21
Guerrero, 22
p Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25
Tevin was the founder and owner of Total Entrepreneurs Concepts, a marketing company in Saginaw, Michigan. He was a graduate of West Iredell High School in Statesville, and studied business at Strayer University South in Charlotte, NC.
Henry, 41
pAnthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25 Anthony Luis Laureano Disla was a born dancer, and spent the evening of Saturday, June 11, on the dance floor at Pulse Nightclub with his two roommates. Anthony was still dancing when shots were fired, hitting him multiple times. His roommates were both critically injured.
Hernandez, 27
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p Simon Adrian p Leroy Valentin p Mercedez p Deonka Marisol Flores, 26 Deidra Drayton, 32 Carrillo Fernandez, Fernandez, 25 Roy was a self-styled Known as DeeDee, 31 After graduating from
Deonka was working at Pulse Nightclub at the time of the shooting. Originally from Eastover, SC, DeeDee had recently overcome a drug addiction and was on probation.
Known on social media as Simon Carrillo, the 31-year-old worked at McDonald’s. Having just returned from a vacation trip, Simon was celebrating with his partner Oscar A. Aracena-Montero. Both men were killed at the nightclub.
fashionista and singer, who worked as a leasing agent at an Orlando apartment complex. Known for his impromptu performances, Adele was high on his karaoke charts.
high school, Mercedez went to work for a Target store in Orlando while studying at Valencia Community College. On the night of the massacre at Pulse nightclub, she was with her girlfriend
p Miguel Angel
p Javier
p Jason Benja-
p Eddie
Miguel Angel Honorato was the father of three children. He worked for FajitaMex Mexican Catering in Orlando. He was a fan of Club America–a Liga MX soccer team.
On social media, Javier went by the name Harvey George Kings, an English translation of his actual name. He worked as a supervisor at the Gucci store in the Mall at Millenia.
An Arizona native, Jason was known for his laugh-loud and distinquishable. When the shooting began in Pulse Nightclub, he called his mother and was told to hide in a stall in the bathroom. His was the last body discovered in the club, shot in his hiding place.
Honorato, 30
INMEMORIAM ORLANDO
Jorge-Reyes, 40
min Josaphat, 19
Jamoldroy Justice, 30
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice texted his mother at 2:06 am. “Mommy I love you. In club they shooting.” The accountant wrote he was trapped in a bathroom, like so many of the victims. The police found his body when they finally entered the club nearly three hours later.
WEREMEMBER
p Alejandro Andrew Leinonen, Barrios Martinez, 21 32
p Christopher
p Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49
p Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25
Drew Leinonen was the son of two police officers. Born in Detroit, Drew moved with his mother to Florida, where he worked as a psychologist in Orlando. Hewas arranging to get married to his long-time partner Juan Ramon Guerrero, who also died in the massacre.
Two years ago, Barrios Martinez immigrated from Cuba to Central Florida. The smiling young man was eager to learn English, and was frustrated by his inability to speak at the same rapid-fire pace of his mind.
Brenda went to the club with her son Isaiah Henderson, 21. She was a mother of 11 and grandmother of six. A cancer survivor, she was an outspoken advocate for LGBT rights. Her gay son Isaiah was not injured.
p Eric Ivan
p Joel Rayon
p Jean Carlos
p Enrique L.
A merchandise manager at Ross Dress for Less, Eric Ortiz had moved from his native Puerto Rico in search of career advancement and fame. Known for his willingness to lend a helping hand, Eric was shot while attempting to help other escape the carnage at Pulse.
Born in Mexico, Joel Rayon Paniagua moved to Florida in 2000 to advance his life and his career in construction. An avid churchgoer, Joel had lived in Tampa for less than a year.
Always experimenting with a new fragrance, the Puerto Ricoborn native worked at the Perfumania, at the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets store. It was there he met his partner, Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon. The pair died together during the attack.
Enrique had traveled from his hometown of Brooklyn to Orlando to attend a friend’s birthday celebration. In New York, he worked as a social worker for the True Care Home Health Care company in Brooklyn.
Ortiz Rivera, 36
Paniagua, 32
Mendez Perez, 35
Gilberto, known as Silva Gilbert, came from Manati, Puerto Rico, to study healthcare management at Ana G Mendez University in Orlando. He worked at a Speedway store. He was together with his best friend, Peter “Ommy” Cruz, who was also killed in the massacre.
Rios Jr, 25
p Kimberly KJ
p Akyra Monet
p Luis Omar
p Geraldo A.
KJ Morris came to Orlando two months ago from Hawaii to help her mother and grandmother who lived locally. She worked as a bouncer at Pulse Nightclub and was the first employee inside the club to confront the shooter.
The youngest victim of the massacre, Akyra Murray was visiting Orlando celebrating her high school graduation. She texted her family from the bathroom in the club, including her final note that said she had been shot. She died later in the day.
A native of Cleveland, Luis loved dancing, and particularly on Saturday nights at Pulse. He worked at the Orlando Target store.
A native of Dominican Republic, Geraldo had just flown into Orlando from Puerto Rico to attend a Selena Gomez concert at the Amway Center. An actor and dancer in San Juan, Geraldo went by the name of Drake professionally.
Morris, 37
Murray, 18
Ocasio-Capo, 20
p Jean Carlos
p Xavier Emman- p Christopher Nieves Rodriguez, uel Serrano Joseph Sanfeliz, 27 Rosado, 35 24 Jean Carlos was an unassuming, colorful, hard-working friend to the Latin community. A Puerto Rican native, he was always quick to smile. He recently went from working at a local McDonald’s to a new job at a cash-checking store.
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Dancer/singer Xavier Serrano spent his life entertaining others. He had worked at Walt Disney World as well as Norwegian Cruise Lines, but recently took a job with an Arlo shoe store because the hours were more convenient to accommodate his 5-year-old son.
An employee of JP Morgan Chase bank, Chris Sanfeliz came from a very close family. “Everyone knows the bond that I had with my brother,” Junior Sanfeliz said. “We would finish each other’s sentences, knew each other’s thoughts, and could sense when the other was upset.”
Ortiz-Jimenez, 25
p Yilmary
Rodriguez Solivan, 24 The wife of race-car driver Juan Borges, Yilmary leaves two children, including a three-month old son Sergio. She was dancing at Pulse with her brother-in-law William Borges, who was also shot, but survived the attack.
WEREMEMBER
p Eddie
p Shane Evan
p Martin
p Jonathan Antonio
A familiar friend to the Next family, Eddie was the brand manager for Al & Chuck Travel, with office across Florida. The first announced victim of the massacre, Eddie is remembered for his friendliness and the top-hat he wore to many events.
A well-known vocalist and lead singer of the group Frequency, Shane had just performed at Orlando’s Blue Martini nightclub before stopping by Pulse for a drink. He was large in stature and talent.
Martin Torres from Puerto Rico had recently enrolled at the Tampa campus of Sistema Universitario Ana G. Méndez. He was studying to be a pharmacy technician.
Jonathan Camuy died a hero. When found after the massacre, his body was shielding Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, who also died in the shooting. He was a producer of La Voz Kids on Telemundo.
p Juan Pablo
p Luis S.
p Franky Jimmy
Juan Pablo Rivera Velazquez worked at Alta Peluqueria D’Magazine salon in Kissimmee with partner Luis Daniel Conde, who was also killed in the massacre.
Luis worked as a ride attendant at the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando, FL. Author JK Rawlings paid tribute to him on Twitter.
Born in Puerto Rico, Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez was the oldest victim to die during the Pulse Nightclub massacre. He was a visual merchandiser at Forever 21.
Sotomayor Jr., 34
Rivera Valazquez, 37
Tomlinson, 33
Vielma, 22
Benitez Torres, 33
Camuy Vega, 24
p Luis Daniel Dejesus Velazquez, Wilson-Leon, 37 50
Born in Puerto Rico, Luis came to the US in his early 20s, moving first to Vero Beach, FL. He went on to meet his life partner, Juan Carlos Mendez Perez, with whom he died during the Pulse Nightclub massacre.
t Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 Jerry Wright worked in merchandising on Main Street and Tomorrowland at Walt Disney World. He was at Pulse to celebrate the 21st birthday of friend, Cory James Connell, who also died in the massacre.
INMEMORIAM ORLANDO 15
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