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Linda Rivera
Everyone who knew Linda Rivera adored her trademark giggle.
"It was very high- pitched, very squeaky," said Dennise Delgado, a close friend who had been laughing with Ms. Rivera since their days at Canarsie High School in Brooklyn. "She'd laugh at everything, even if it wasn't particularly funny."
Ms. Rivera, 26, worked in human resources at Marsh & McLennan but rarely discussed her career with friends and family. Instead, she chattered about her new apartment, her cat and two dogs, her boyfriend of six years and her younger brother, to whom she was so devoted that she attended his parent-teacher conferences.
She grew up in East New York, Brooklyn, the daughter of Puerto Rican parents who spoke little English. More recently, Ms. Rivera had set down roots in Far Rockaway, Queens, where she was making do with hand-me-down furniture until she could afford nice new things. In particular, she was eager to trade her beat-up futon for a plush sofa. Ms. Delgado visited the apartment only after Ms. Rivera died, to help her friend's parents sort through her possessions.
"She was going to do something special when it was all set up," Ms. Delgado said.
Copyright (c) 2001 by The New York Times Co. Reprinted by permission.
You're always alive in our hearts.
Also God bless the last living rescue dogs who worked so hard searching for you and others.
Kevin T, Friend
Sep 14 2012 11:01AM
Sep 14 2012 11:01AM
Still 11 years later and I Can't get over it. Ur Loss and thousands of others. This day should have never happened. Missing u
Jessica Compre, Friend
Sep 11 2012 2:52AM
Sep 11 2012 2:52AM
I am not sure why God had taken you away on this fateful day. I know it could have been any one of us. You simply went to work that day trying to make a better life for yourself. You are remembered and are free now so Fly Linda & let your spirit soar. From One fellow Canarsian to another.
dawn, Friend
Oct 22 2011 8:32AM
Oct 22 2011 8:32AM
Thinking of you 10 years later..
God bless!
Kevin Tim Kee, Friend
Sep 11 2011 11:49PM
Sep 11 2011 11:49PM
Think of you often thoughout all these years. Miss sharing our lunches together in that cozy conference room on 100 ...miss your laugh..miss sharing the books we were reading:)
My prayers for your family I bring.
Frances Rodriguez, Colleague
Sep 9 2011 8:55AM
Sep 9 2011 8:55AM
Thinking of you and your family today...
Melinda Rivera, Friend
Aug 12 2011 3:12PM
Aug 12 2011 3:12PM
Miss u girl. U were a very nice person. Never will get over that day. UR Breatly missed.
Jessica Compre, Friend
Sep 12 2010 10:51PM
Sep 12 2010 10:51PM
I remember Linda being one of the nicest and sweetest girls in school. We went to school together from p.s. 306 to Gershwin and also Canarsie High. Truly an "angel". -Antowin Kenner
Antowin Kenner, Friend
Sep 11 2009 7:01PM
Sep 11 2009 7:01PM
I always think about you and will always miss you mama!
Edward Rodriguez, Friend
Sep 11 2009 6:35PM
Sep 11 2009 6:35PM
Its been so long but feels like yesterday. We miss U.
Jessica Compre, Friend
Sep 11 2009 3:13PM
Sep 11 2009 3:13PM
Linda I got this letter i don,t know why that this has happened i send love to those who loved you
Gratten Darmody, Friend
Jun 1 2009 8:37AM
Jun 1 2009 8:37AM
I recently found out the horrific news about someone who was a very special person. I knew linda when i attended brooklyn college. she always made those around her laugh and happy. she had a distinctive laugh which stood out. linda's memory is alive and well. she is in heaven looking down on us. she is probably playing handball. we all miss you.
chet, Friend
Mar 7 2009 3:45PM
Mar 7 2009 3:45PM
7 years later and your memory lives on. Many years have passed since H.S. and night school but its feels like just yesterday.
May God Bless you Linda, you were one of a kind.
Kevin T, Friend
Sep 11 2008 3:59PM
Sep 11 2008 3:59PM
It's been 6 yrs and I can still hear her catchy laughter. She was the very first person I met at Berkeley College Sept. 1993, I sat next to her in Principals of Accounting 1. From that moment on, she offered me kindness and a shoulder to cry on when I needed it the most. There are so many words, so many actions, so many wonderful memories that I have of Linda, that there is not enough time nor space for me to add.
Linda, no matter where you are, your memory & friendship will always be held close to my heart.
God bless you today, tomorrow, and always.
With Love,
Steve O.
Steve, Friend
Sep 12 2007 2:44PM
Sep 12 2007 2:44PM
A few months before 9/11, Linda and I spoke on the phone. We had found each other after many years of not seeing one another because I moved to AZ. I knew Linda since probably 1989, I believe and she was always fascinating. The last things we spoke about were her boyfriend whom I was going to get to meet when they got married, her new apartment and her job. She was so excited and I was excited for her. I hope that her family is doing well and I hope that her boyfriend is living his life and happy, because I know that is what she would want for all of them.
Melinda Rivera, Friend
May 18 2006 6:48AM
May 18 2006 6:48AM
MY DAUGHTER WAS AND WILL BE THE MOST GOOD HEARTED PERSON TO ME AND MY FAMILY. WE WILL ALWAYS KEEP HER IN OUR HEARTS BECUASE LOSING HER WAS AN UNREPIARBLE LOSS. SHE LOVED LIFE,SHE WAS HAPPY,KIND AND SHE HAD LOVE FOR EVERYONE THAT WAS WILLING TO BE HER FRIEND. SHE LEFT HER LOVE TO ME IN MY HEART AS HER MOTHER BY BEING A REAL GOOD DAUGHTER TO ME. SHE WAS ALSO A GOOD SISTER TO HER BIG BROTHER AND HER LITTLE BROTHER. WHERE EVER MY DAUGHTER WENT SHE HAD LOVE FROM HER HEART TO SPREAD AROUND TO EVERYONE WHO SHE KNEW TO BE HER GOOD FRIENDS AND SHE RECIEVED THAT LOVE BACK LIKE WISE FROM HER FRIENDS WITH RESPECT. AFTER SHE DIED ALL THOSE FRIENDS WHOM SHE DEMONSTRATED LOVE TOO WHEN SHE WAS ALIVE RETURNED THAT LOVE TO HER EVEN AFTER SHE WAS GONE. WHICH SHOWS YOU SHE HAD REAL FRIENDS WHOM SHE COULD TRUST AND DEPEND ON TO CAME THROUGH FOR NOT JUST MAKE BELIEVE FRIENDS WHO SEE YOU ONE MINUTE AND DON'T RECOGNIZE YOU THE NEXT. EVEN HER LAUGH WAS ANGELIC IN NATURE AND FOR ME SHE WAS LITERALLY A TEMPORARY ANGEL PUT BY GOD ON THIS EARTH TO WATCH OVER US AS A FAMILY AND AS A METAPHORE I LIKE TO REFER TO MY DAUGHTER AS A BEAUTIFUL FLOWER PICK OUT GOD'S GARDEN BECAUSE IT WAS HER TIME AND BECAUSE SHE HAD ALREADY FORFILLED HER DESTINY HERE ON EARTH. SHE CONTINUES TO LIVE IN OUR HEARTS,MINDS, AND SOULS FOR EVER AND EVER. EVERYONE WHO KNEW LINDA KNEW GOD'S LOVE BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT SHE INSPIRED IN OTHERS TO HAVE FOR THEIR FELLOW STRANGERS AS WELL. SINCERELY HER FAMILY. THANKYOU.
CARMEN E. RIVERA, Family
Jun 9 2003 7:49PM
Jun 9 2003 7:49PM
“When you are sad, I will dry your tears.
When you are scared, I will comfort your fears.
When you are worried, I will give you hope.
When you are confused, I will help you cope.
And when you are lost, and can't see the light;
I shall be your beacon shining ever so bright.
This is my oath, I pledge till the end.
Why you may ask? Because you are my friend.”
A while back, Linda had e-mailed me a poem containing the above paragraph. It was one of those e-mails that you forward on and seem to go in circles. The only difference was that she meant every word that it contained. One night, Linda did all of the above for me and it is something that I will never forget. I will forever hold her in my heart.
Isabel Roman, Friend
Apr 8 2002 4:16PM
Apr 8 2002 4:16PM
