On April 28, CSEA and other unions around the world will remember those who have died or been seriously injured while doing their jobs.
Workers’ Memorial Day, observed since 1989, serves as an opportunity to mourn fallen workers. The AFL-CIO chose April 28 as the observance date to coincide with the anniversary of the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
This year, our union mourns the loss of the following members:
Coto
Maria Coto, 56, who passed away on June 19, 2024, from injuries sustained from an unprovoked attack by an individual while she was on a home visit on her job at Westchester County Department of Social Services.
Horrach
David Horrach, 34, a highway maintenance worker 1 at the state Department of Transportation’s Westchester County Residency, passed away Oct. 31, 2024 after being found unresponsive in his work vehicle.
Ebling
Stephen Ebling, 58, a maintenance supervisor at the New York State Thruway Authority, passed away Nov. 4, 2024, after he was struck by a motorist while supervising a road maintenance crew in Erie County.
Vasquez
Dariel Vasquez, 18, a parks and recreation aide 4 at the state Palisades Park Commission, passed away Nov. 9, 2024, after being struck by a falling tree while responding to wildfires in Greenwood Lake, Orange County.
Covertino
Carmine Convertino, 72, a bus driver at the City of Long Beach, passed away Dec. 20, 2024, from injuries he sustained in an accident while driving the bus as part of his work duties.
Alexander
Victoria Alexander, 29, a caseworker at the St. Lawrence County Department of Social Services, passed away Jan. 16, 2025, after being involved in an automobile accident in a county vehicle while performing work duties.
In addition to remembering fallen workers, Workers’ Memorial Day is also a chance to renew our union’s ongoing commitment to safe and healthy workplaces.
While unions have been key to securing safer and healthier workplaces, there is still much work to do to ensure workplace safety.
CSEA members are encouraged to attend Workers’ Memorial Day events in their communities. Visit cseany.org and your region’s Facebook page for information on events in your area.
