Photos by Stacie Joy
Friends, neighbors and community members gathered around the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree this morning to share memories, stories and music honoring a longtime community leader and the founder of the Park's annual holiday tree-lighting tradition.
Albert Fabozzi recently passed away at age 85 after a short illness.
He started the Tompkins holiday tree lighting in 1992, following the death of his longtime partner, Glenn Barnett, from an AIDS-related illness.
What began as a memorial to Barnett and others lost in the AIDS crisis became a lasting neighborhood tradition.
Speakers included Tom Birchard (below) of Veselka and Sam Shipman, Barnett's nephew. Chris Tanner also performed as Mama Cass Elliot, singing "Make Your Own Kind of Music," one of Fabozzi's favorite songs.
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