The New York Daily News is reporting that the body of beloved Queens icon Ms Colombia aka Osvaldo Gomez, 64, was found about 3:30AM near Beach 149th St. in Queens. There were no signs of trauma and she is believed to have drowned. At this time, no foul play is suspected, but an autopsy is being performed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine the exact cause of death.
City Councilmember Daniel Dromm called Gomez, “an iconic figure” in the LGBT community the city at large.
“She was beloved by all who saw her in the streets, at parks and in the neighborhood wearing her colorful outfits and a bird on her shoulder,” he said in a statement. “Her cheerfulness and ability to bring a smile to the faces of all who met her will be missed by all New Yorkers.”
“While life did not always treat Ms. Colombia with all the respect she was due, New Yorkers will remember Ms. Colombia as a hero to everyone,” Dromm said.
“May this amazing soul who all he wanted to do was entertain and make people laugh Rest in Peace Forever,” wrote an anonymous poster to the Brownstoner website.
A Youtube commenter has said that Ms. Colombia will be remembered and loved at a vigil at the Jackson Heights Post Office this evening at 7pm. 78-02 37th Ave., Jackson Heights, Queens, NY 11372.
Below, a docu-short tells the story of how she moved to Queens from Colombia in 1975. In the ’80s she was diagnosed with #HIV and began living her life “day by day.”
