Second man dies from coronavirus after attending Winter Party in Miami Beach
A second man who attended the recent Winter Party Festival in Miami Beach, an annual fundraising event for the LGBTQ community, has died of COVID-19, according to festival organizers.
“The National LGBTQ Task Force is mourning the passing of a loyal volunteer, Ron Rich, who succumbed to COVID-19 over the weekend,” the National LGBTQ Task Force said in a Facebook post Tuesday. “Ron was a familiar face to the guests who attended the Task Force Gala, Winter Party Festival and our Fort Lauderdale house parties over the past five years as his big smile and warmth had him mostly serving on our hospitality team.“
The Winter Party Festival , held March 4-10, drew thousands of gay men to Miami Beach. The festival is a fundraiser for the task force.
At least nine people who attended the festival have tested positive for COVID-19. Israel Carrera, a 40-year-old who lived in North Miami and attended the festival, contracted the virus and died from it on Thursday. He was Miami-Dade’s first reported COVID-19 death.
Rich’s friends have posted heartwarming messages about him on Facebook.
Onre Soto wrote, “I’m heartbroken by the news I got last night at 11 p.m.: My best friend Ron Rich passing Saturday night. He was truly honest, sincere... We all grieving for his family. I will miss you forever. Until we meet again....”
Theo Vernon posted, “I am devastated this morning. My good friend Ron Rich has passed away due to the COVID-19 virus. I student taught at Grissom under him and worked with him my first year teaching at Grissom high school in 1985. He was an amazing mentor, musician and we became great friends.”
As of Tuesday night, the Florida Department of Health reported 2,123 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Miami-Dade County and seven deaths. Broward County has 1,219 cases and 13 deaths.
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