Lancelot Diaz-Hernandez, a 20-year-old kosher supermarket employee in Lakewood, N.J., passed away due to complications from coronavirus. Image by GoFundMe

By Aiden Pink April 7, 2020

More than $15,000 has been raised in three days for the former employee of a Lakewood, N.J. kosher grocery store who died of the coronavirus.

Lancelot Diaz-Hernandez, 20, passed away after spending two weeks in the hospital fighting complications from COVID and pneumonia, the Asbury Park Press reported.

A GoFundMe page to aid with medical and funeral expenses was set up on Saturday by his friend Getangely, who described Diaz-Hernandez as a “brother from another mother.”

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“He was the most selfless, head strong and caring friend I have ever met, and became one of the closest friend to many others,” Getangely wrote. “He lived with his mom (a single immigrant parent) and his older sister. He helped them with money the most he could, he loved them with his whole heart- as he loved anyone in his life.”

More than 350 people have donated, with a combined total so far of $15,000 towards a $25,000 goal. Gourmet Glatt itself donated $500, and many other donors came from the Jewish community in Lakewood, one of the most heavily-Jewish municipalities in the country.

When a 20 yr old Lakewood Latino man dies of COVID19, the community pulls together. Notice how many Orthodox Jews contributed. This is the Lakewood I know #lakewoodlove pic.twitter.com/gA99aWVAb7

— Tova Herskovitz (@tovaherskovitz) April 6, 2020

“We join the family in grieving this tragedy,” the store said in a statement. “Lancelot was a fun, caring and dedicated employee who was loved by all. He will be sorely missed.”

Aiden Pink is the deputy news editor of the Forward. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @aidenpink

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