Downtown Belize City is forever changed after last night when 52 year old Jerry Lopez collapsed in a drain on King Street. The fruit vendor, who has been serving the public for half his life, passed away before he even got to the hospital, leaving his community in a state of shock two days before Christmas.
This time of year is usually his busiest, with patrons getting their Christmas apples and grapes from him. But today, many of them stopped by his corner to say goodbye to him, and share their condolences with his family, who were operating his cart.
And while he's no longer here, Lopez will be remembered for his hardworking spirit and his words of wisdom. Courtney Menzies spoke to those closest to him and has this story.
Black bows and candles adorned the corner of King and Albert Street where 52 year old fruit vendor Jerry Lopez sat for over two decades. And like any other day, he was there selling his fruits well into last night. But just after 8:00, Lopez stood up, lumbered across the street to relieve himself, and collapsed into the drain- he never got up. After about 10 minutes, he was rushed to the hospital but died on the way.
And with his passing, the Albert Street community is grieving. For those who saw him everyday, they're also in shock since they said they had just spoken to him moments before his death.
Cindy Joseph, Sister-in-law of Deceased
"I came out here, I normally come out and sell my powder bun. And the evening, about after 7 I left from here. I told him, we're leaving because I have to prepare for the morning. So when we left from out here, my baby dad got a call and say you need to come out to help with Jerry, Jerry fell. So he's like, how you mean Jerry drop? They said he dropped in the drain. So we left from Publics and we came and they already went with him."
"By the time we got there, they called and said they can't find any pulse. So we're like, what? And we just left him out here. How did that happen so quickly?"
Eric Yorke, Friend of Deceased
"Me and Mr Jerry, we're from way back, from the 70's, I used to sell ice over there. And he's a good man. He treats everybody with love and last night we were talking, me him and the taxi man, because only the three of us were out talking last night when we were closing down. Before he closed he told me, Mr Yorke, let them boys close the side shutters so I got one of the boys and brought him in to close the side shutters and I left him and the taxi man packing his stuff to take him home. So the taxi man told him, Jerry wait on me, because I'm going to do a job and take this lady and when I come back I will take you home."
"When I came from upstairs, I heard them say the man drop in the drain. I feel it because we were just out there talking to him and he's my tag team because we hang out together."
While earlier reports suggested a seizure, his family believes it was his heart that gave in. But if he had been feeling ill before yesterday, he did not tell his brothers.
George Lopez Jr., Brother of Deceased
"He didn't really complain, you could see it, it's obvious."
Courtney Menzies:
"What are some of the symptoms you saw?"
George Lopez Jr., Brother of Deceased
"To me I saw it as complications. It's a heart attack my brother died from. I tried to help him but..."
"The original that, he was the real deal. He's real, big G to the fullest, for life. This thing never die. Trust me, you will see the rest big G from here go back. Yeah, Jerry, you're still alive, Jer. Don't watch anything. For life."
"Lately, I was talking to him, I was in the city a couple days ago and I watched my brother and I asked him, how do you feel? You don't look good, Jer. But he likes silence, he doesn't like to speak out on certain things, when he gets in a jam then he will be like, what's good for this? What's good for that? Because he knows I will go all out for them. But the man's vessel couldn't take it anymore."
Cindy Joseph, Sister-in-law of Deceased
"Yesterday when I spoke to him I asked, you alright? He said yes, I feel good. You see these plums? This is the fastest box I ever do. He said, I feel good. And he wasn't saying anything but when we were talking to his common-law yesterday she said he was complaining on Sunday that he didn't feel good. But he still came out yesterday because the Christmas season is his thing."
And this Christmas Eve, he won't be there selling the apples and grapes that were his trademark offering at this time of year. But in our archives, he was there every other season, even when business was bad.
Jerry Lopez, Deceased
"As a businessman right now, business is really slow right now, I hope it picks up in the next two days. I'm not seeing it like the past Christmas before."
But if there was one wish he had every season, it would be for Belizeans to live happier lives:
Jerry Lopez, Deceased
"We want the people to start living better with one another, once you live better with each other, everything will go good."
"It's coming, it's coming, you have to make it. If you don't feel like it's coming, you have to do what you have to do. Get out and grind, straight up."
"Government, regular people, bad boys, rude boys, good boys, everybody, focus on what's happening, it's circle."
And while we won't be getting any wise words from him this year, his cart remains on the corner and his family is taking up the mantle for the season.
Cassius Lopez, Brother of Deceased
"He had ordered these things and we have to get rid of it. We had to do it and I think I'm the best one to do it and this is what we've been doing every year, ever since my dad used to do it. But we got to do it for Jerry at the same time."
Courtney Menzies:
"You are planning to keep this going?"
Cassius Lopez, Brother of Deceased
"I'm thinking about it. I'm going to sit down and talk to my mom because it's not anything hard to do, you just have to be consistent and continue because he already got the corner, this is his name, and once people pass, if they don't see Jerry they already know what's going on because of the corner. So I'm thinking about it, I think it's a good thing, but I'm going to see what the New Year brings and put it together."
But whether his younger brother decides to fill his shoes, he knows that Lopez's personality and popularity is what drew the people.
Cassius Lopez, Brother of Deceased
"Jerry was a good guy, he's a people person, whoever know him know him based on my father, based on what he did out here, school. I think he's like my dad in a sort of way because you can say 85% of Belizeans know Jerry. And even though I wasn't here, I used to live in the US and I came back and everybody knows Jerry, when you talk about Jerry, they already know which Jerry you're talking about, Albert Street Jerry. So that's the good thing about it. Everybody loved Jerry in their own way, yes he might have had ups and downs in life, but beyond that, great guy, great brother."
"Even last night when I was at the hospital, I got at least about 100 calls, all the way from England, New York, Chicago, LA, all over, I was like man. And the only thing I could say was yes, whatever you heard, yes is the answer."
Eric Yorke, Friend of Deceased
"I feel it because the man is a very good man, he's love, he treats everybody with love, and everybody loves him and he knows to carry himself as a man. But he's in the hands of God."
And while the Alberts will miss his jokes, like when we asked him who he thought should get the new Boledo contract:
Jerry Lopez, Deceased
"Tell them take away and give it to me, that's what I what."
Cherisse Halsall:
"You want to make all that money right?"
Jerry Lopez, Deceased
"That's right."
His determination and perseverance will live on:
Jerry Lopez, Deceased
"Best thing that ever happened to me was to wake up everyday and do mines."
Cherisse Halsall:
"So what's your New Years resolution?"
Jerry Lopez, Deceased
"No resolution. I won't make any resolution. Here's what I'll do. Come hard and come like an unstoppable train in anything I do."
Lopez's business began with his father, who had been selling fruits on Albert Street since the Palace Theater days.
Lopez leaves behind one son. Later in the news, we'll look at what the loss of "Jerry" and "Pie Bwai" mean for downtown Belize City.
