Remembering Ms. Colombia, An Icon Who Sparkled at NYC’s Riis Beach
When Ms. Colombia, née Oswaldo Gomez, arrived in New York City in 1975, she had just completed her law degree in Spain. Originally from Colombia, she came to New York seeking a more open society.
She got her nickname because she often went to airports in her spare time, offering free legal services to fellow Colombian immigrants. But after being diagnosed with AIDS, and later colon cancer, she took that desire for freedom to a new level: devoting the rest of her life to being joyfully, unabashedly herself.
Ms. Colombia and her parrot, Rosita at the Lunar New Year Parade in New York City in February, 2013. By Eric Truong.
She was known throughout NYC for her green beard, her brightly colored, traditional Colombian skirts, and her exuberance. She marched in every parade, always accompanied by her rainbow-colored miniature poodle, Cariño, and her foul-mouthed parrot, Rosita. And she spent as much time as possible at the beach at Jacob Riis Park, which has been a haven for the queer community since the 1940s. There, she and her friends talked, swam, and dug up clams.
In 2018, she died at Riis Beach. Victoria Cruz and Carlos Villacres, two of her close friends, came to StoryCorps to remember her.
The Ms. Colombia memorial at the 4th annual Ms. Colombia Beach Walk at Riis Beach, NYC, on August 26, 2023. By Halle Hewitt for StoryCorps.
Victoria Cruz and Carlos Villacres at their StoryCorps interview in Brooklyn, New York on June 13, 2024. By Von Diaz for StoryCorps.
Top Photo: Ms. Colombia with her poodle, Cariño, at the Coney Island Mermaid Parade in New York City on June 21, 2008. By Paul Stein.
This broadcast is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Originally aired August 23, 2024, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Twin Mortician Brothers Look Back On A Life Of Caring For The Dead
At 69 years old, twin brothers Melvin and Marvin Morgan have both served as mortuary technicians for New York City morgues.
They’ve worked through some of the city’s most horrific events – moments like 9/11 and the earliest days of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Just before Melvin’s retirement in 2023, they came to StoryCorps to look back on a life of caring for the dead.
Melvin Morgan and Marvin Morgan at their StoryCorps interview in New York City on April 22nd, 2023. By Eleanor Vassili for StoryCorps.
Top Photo: Melvin Morgan and Marvin Morgan at their StoryCorps interview in New York City on April 22nd, 2023. By Isabella Gonzalez for StoryCorps.
This broadcast is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Originally aired May 26th, 2023, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
‘Your Heart is On Protein Powder:’ Reflections On Love and Family
Mason Best seems to have a lot on his mind. At 12 years old, he already has a lot of thoughts on life and love. Mason came to StoryCorps at his local Boys Club in Queens, NY.
Roseann Smith and Mason Best on New Year’s Day 2023. Courtesy of Roseann Smith.
He decided to invite his mom, Roseann Smith, to sit down for a conversation. The duo got right to the serious stuff.
Top Photo: Mason Best and Roseann Smith at their StoryCorps interview in Queens, New York on March 25, 2023. By Julia Kirschenbaum for StoryCorps.
This recording was made possible by a partnership with The Boys’ Club of New York.
This broadcast is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, the National Endowment for the Arts, and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
Originally aired April 28, 2023, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
“That Moment Was Love Embodied To Me.” A Father And Daughter Remember a Dramatic Rescue
Driving can be hard … and perhaps some people are just not meant to drive. In Danny Bell’s family, that’s his wife, Maritza. He came to StoryCorps in 2022 with their daughter, Sydia, to recount a particularly memorable driving lesson.
Sydia and Danny Bell at their StoryCorps interview in Atlanta, GA on July 9, 2022. By Alison Hopkins for StoryCorps.
Top Photo: Sydia, Danny, and Maritza Bell with their dog (not Roxanna) in 2016. Courtesy of the Bell family.
This broadcast is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Originally aired February 17, 2023 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
With your support, StoryCorps is able to record more stories that help lift up underrepresented voices, bridge political and social divides, and preserve personal histories for the future.
“We’re Stuck With Each Other”: An Unconventional Quarantine Love Story
Neil Kramer and Sophia Lansky married in 1996, but it didn’t work out. After they divorced, Neil moved across the country, but they still leaned on each other.
At the end of 2019, when the pipes in Sophia’s apartment burst, she was stuck with no place to stay. So she called the one person she knew she could depend on.
Neil Kramer and Sophia Lansky holding hands in Queens, New York, in October of 2021, on what would have been their 25th wedding anniversary. Courtesy of Neil Kramer.
Sophia moved in with Neil at the beginning of 2020. Coincidentally, Neil’s mother also moved back in with him around the same time, and the three of them decided to share the two-bedroom New York apartment for what they thought would be “a few weeks”.
Elaine Kramer (left), Neil Kramer, and Sophia Lansky in Queens NY, in May of 2021. Courtesy of Neil Kramer.
Exes Sophia and Neil came to StoryCorps to talk about what they’ve learned from living together during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Early on during the pandemic, Neil started chronicling their odd living arrangements through a photography project.
From left to right: Sophia, Neil, and Elaine watching the news in March of 2020. Queens, New York. Courtesy of Neil Kramer.
He’s still taking photographs of their shared experience. And the three of them are able to collectively tap into the humor and absurdity of their life.
Top Photo: Neil Kramer and Sophia Lansky on February 9th, 2022 in Queens, New York. Courtesy of Neil Kramer.
Originally aired February 11, 2022, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
A Queens Family’s Tradition of Feeding Those in Need — 365 Days a Year
Since 2004, Jorge Muñoz has gathered with his family in their small kitchen in Queens, New York where they cook meals for those in need. Together, they’ve provided more than one hundred meals per day to day laborers, many of whom are undocumented immigrants, in the city.
They’ve kept up the tradition year-round for the last 16 years, providing approximately 500,000 meals — until May, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Using StoryCorps Connect, Jorge spoke with his sister, Luz, to remember the beginning of their journey, and how their mother inspired them to give to those in need.
Top Photo: Siblings Luz and Jorge Muñoz spoke about how their meal program began in their recent StoryCorps interview from their home in Queens, NY.
Middle Photo: The Muñoz family, (from left to right) Jorge, Justin, Blanca, and Luz, prepares meals from their kitchen in 2010.
Originally aired December 4, 2020, on NPR’s Morning Edition.