Nine unhoused New Yorkers who died from exposure to freezing temperatures on the city’s streets last winter will be honored with a funeral and given a permanent place of rest, thanks to a coalition of compassionate residents and organizations.
The victims were among 18 homeless people discovered dead outdoors during a severe cold spell, when temperatures fell to as low as 3 degrees. Families claimed the remains of nine, but the others were initially scheduled for burial on Hart Island, the city’s Potter’s Field off the Bronx coast.
Rhonda Roland Shearer, founder of the nonprofit Art Science Research Laboratory and Cut Red Tape 4 Heroes, stepped in to prevent that outcome.
The nine will now be remembered during an All Souls Day Mass at St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue on Monday, Nov. 2, at 5:30 p.m. Their ashes will be placed in the church’s Resurrection Chapel. The public is welcome to attend.
The individuals being honored are:
- James Paul Smith, 51: A South Carolina native who died from hypothermia on Dec. 3, 2025. His body was discovered near East 150th Street and Melrose Avenue in the Bronx.
- Manjeet Singh, 38: Originally from India and the son of Satpal and Amarjit. He was found dead along the Van Wyck Expressway in Queens on Dec. 5, 2025. Hypothermia contributed to his death.
- Harold Hemphill, 66: Born in South Carolina to Janie and James. He died from hypothermia on Dec. 13, 2025, and was found near West 173rd Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue in Washington Heights.
- Tomeka Ryeshera Gibson, 39: A Manhattan native who died of hypothermia on Dec. 22, 2025, near West 135th Street and Broadway in Harlem.
- Jorge Elias Rivera Torres, 61: Born in Puerto Rico. He died from hypothermia on Dec. 30, 2025, near Gardner and Metropolitan avenues in Brooklyn.
- Jeffrey Costa, 47: Born in Queens to Linney and Americo. He died of hypothermia on Jan. 21, 2026, and was found on Queens Boulevard.
- Edward “Eduardo” Adames, 54: He died of hypothermia on Jan. 24, 2026, after being found near First Avenue and East 69th Street in Manhattan.
- Jose M. “Joseph” Pena, 74: He had lived near Woodhaven Boulevard and the Long Island Expressway in Queens since 2020. He died there from hypothermia on Feb. 3, 2026.
- Igor Zapevalov, 64: Originally from Russia, he had lived in Manhattan for a decade. He died of hypothermia on Feb. 10, 2026, after being found in a doorway vestibule on East 7th Street in the East Village.
All Souls Day is observed in the Christian tradition as a time to remember and honor people who have died.
ALSO READ: Plastic Surgeon Reacts to Jennifer Lawrence’s Cosmetic Confessions
“We’re honoring and simply recognizing the humanity of each person,” Shearer told The Post.
Shearer and St. Thomas Church organized the service with assistance from the nonprofit Housing Works.
Patrick J. Marmo, owner of International Funeral & Cremation Services of New York, donated the funeral services and arrangements.
“As a lifelong New Yorker and a funeral director for more than 30 years, I have always believed that every life deserves to be honored with dignity and respect,” Marmo said.
Shearer said she hopes the service will draw attention to the vulnerable people who die on New York’s streets each winter and encourage the city to strengthen its preparations before the next cold season.
“I hope this makes everyone more alert and helps prevent this from happening again,” she said.
