Walk honors those lost to Covid

Posted 6/7/22

The Coronavirus pandemic has, to date, claimed more than one million American lives. Though health experts warn us that it’s not yet over, two local women felt that it was time to remember …

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Walk honors those lost to Covid

Posted

The Coronavirus pandemic has, to date, claimed more than one million American lives. Though health experts warn us that it’s not yet over, two local women felt that it was time to remember those lives lost. They organized a Covid Memorial Walk, Saturday, along the Walden to Wallkill Rail Trail.

“We all experienced the shutdown in different ways,” said Organizer Tina Quinlan who recalled the weeks leading up to the death of her farther, Richard Masotti, on June 4, 2020, exactly two years to the day of Saturday’s walk.

Quinlan and Jody Nicoli, who each lost a loved one to Covid, organized the memorial walk, that included a remembrance ceremony at the Osiris Rail Trail crossing, between Walden and Wallkill. The walk, which began at Walden’s Wooster Grove, drew approximately 60-70 participants.
The 1.1 million Covid deaths include more than 8,500 in the region.

“I don’t want my father to be just a number on the Covid Counter,” Quinlan said, “and I don’t want your loved ones to be either.”

According to his obituary, “Richie (Masotti) was a loving man that had a contagious laugh. He was a successful business owner before retirement. He loved his children and his grandchildren fiercely. He was often seen driving around in his Camaro and often showed up with a new tattoo.”

Jody Nicoli lost her brother to Covid. Steven Nicoli passed away on Sept. 26, 2021 at the age of 42.

“I miss my big brother,” Jody Nicoli said at the ceremony.

Steven Nicoli had a distinguished military career, serving in the U.S. Army’s fabled 82nd Airborne Division. His post military life included many Veteran-related causes, including serving as commander of Walden’s American Legion Post 158 and founding the Hudson Valley Honor Flight, which has honored more than 2,000 Veterans for their service to the country.

“The Lord has blessed us with this shining day,” said Walden Mayor John Ramos, one of the participants in the walk. Ramos offered a tribute to the former American Legion commander at the service.

Montgomery Town Supervisor Brian Maher, another participant in the walk, said it was “a day to remember those we lost, and how much this community came together” in the days, weeks and months following the outset of the pandemic. That outreach, under the TOM Strong umbrella, included volunteers delivering meals to shut-ins, offering rides to medical appointments and vaccinations and distribution of masks and Covid test kits.

Speakers, in addition to sharing stories of loved ones lost, also reminded those gathered to celebrate life and days like a sun-splashed Saturday in June. Dave Nicoli shared one of his late brother’s favorite expressions:

“Yesterday is history
Tomorrow’s a mystery
Today is a gift.”