My brother, Wilmard, also known as Pete, was the oldest of five children. He was an amazing human being. He passed alone in a Bronx, New York hospital. No visits, no facetime, no phone call … nothing. He was 65.

He would have been vaccinated if given the chance, but that opportunity never came since he contracted COVID during the height of the pandemic in New York City. He took his last breath on April 15, 2020. On April 7th, we received his last text telling us he loved us, to love each other and to take care of his wife. That was the last time we had any communication with him.

But my brother was more than a COVID death. He was an amazing human being who gave from his heart. He always wanted to lend a helping hand, offer a word of advice, to pray for you and with you or just to listen to you. He never asked for anything in return. He loved his family, his island of Puerto Rico, the NY Yankees, singing, listening to music, playing the piano and taking tons of photographs and videos. He was always behind his camera.

One day, we went back to our old neighborhood in East Harlem (El Barrio) to attend a cultural event with music, food and games. There he was, taking photos of everyone and everything and, of course us, his family. At one point, a Salsa song came on and my brother, with his own camera in his hand, broke out into a dance. I couldn’t help but to turn the tables on him and take out my own phone camera to start recording him dancing.

He looked so happy. He looked so alive. He looked so proud. I will always remember that day. I wish that he was here so we could continue to hear him sing and play the piano. But I know he is singing with the angels up in heaven. My brother and sisters, his children, his grandchildren, his wife and all of his family and friends miss him so very much. He was our superstar and will always be our superstar.

Rest in peace, my brother. Like you said before you left us, “See you on the other side.”