Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Unveiling Donald Suggs Jr. Way on 6th Street and Avenue B

Photos by Stacie Joy 

On Saturday morning, friends and family of Donald Suggs Jr. came together for a street co-naming ceremony in his honor ... on the SW corner of Sixth Street and Avenue B — now also known as Donald Suggs Jr. Way.
Suggs, a longtime resident of Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B, died in October 2012 of a heart attack. He was 51.

Here's more about him via the advisory for the street co-naming ceremony:
Donald lived his life as a tireless activist for justice, a courageous advocate for the lives of people in HIV-affected communities, a critical thinker, a consequential writer, an incisive editor for The Village Voice and an international media activist based in the East Village. 
He was wise, kind, generous, funny, brilliant, creative, honorable, and out of the closet — back when it was risky to be out. Donald was our good neighbor on East 6th Street.
You can read more about his life and work in this EVG post.

Gabriella Sonam, project coordinator for The Donald Suggs Jr. Street Naming Project and neighbor, speaks about Donald's impact on the neighborhood and NYC...
Guests included his son, Dr. Luis Ramirez...
... Donald’s two sisters and his niece hold the commemorative duplicate sign after program remarks and the street sign unveiling (from the left): Delali Suggs-Akaffu (niece), Dina Suggs and Dawn Suggs... 
Suggs also worked at Exit9 on Avenue A... owners Charles Branstool and Christy Davis were in attendance for the ceremony...
Nancy Jo Sales (right) and her daughter Zazie were close to Donald and embrace as they admire the street sign in his honor and think about their friend...

5 comments:

  1. Donald was the epitome of an East Village neighbor, friendly, funny and interested in connecting with people. I live on the block, and still miss him and our brief but positive interactions. I’m so thrilled that he and his work are being recognized.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is very moving. I only knew him from Exit 9, but he always lit up the room and made my day.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a wonderful smile he had.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That stretch of 7th st bet Ave. A & B should also be named Bob Arihood Way.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes. Bob Arihood Way. Donald. Two amazing spirits. Gone way too soon.

    ReplyDelete

Your remarks and lively debates are welcome, whether supportive or critical of the views herein. Your articulate, well-informed remarks that are relevant to an article are welcome.

However, commentary that is intended to "flame" or attack, that contains violence, racist comments and potential libel will not be published. Facts are helpful.

If you'd like to make personal attacks and libelous claims against people and businesses, then you may do so on your own social media accounts. Also, comments predicting when a new business will close ("I give it six weeks") will not be approved.