Saying Farewell to Bus Operator William Peña

On the first winter day that felt like spring, uniformed transit workers and police officers gathered to say goodbye with formal ceremony to Bus Operator William Peña. His large family, most prominently widow Nancy and daughter Gabriela, marched up the stairs to the entrance of St. Paul the Apostle Church near Lincoln Center in Manhattan, following Brother Peña’s casket which was carried by NYPD pallbearers, piped in by the NYCT Pipers, and honored by the NYCT Color Guard.

Eight NYCT buses brought mourners, union sisters and brothers, who stood in formation as the coffin made its way to the church and up the steps. TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen spoke at the church pulpit after a bilingual Mass was celebrated, along with NYCT President Carmen Bianco and members of the Peña family, including his brother, Alex, who told of William’s great generosity to a bus passenger. Regulars on Peña’s M14 bus, like Millie Ortiz, were in the audience.

Peña’s sister, Police Officer Denise Bueno, spoke movingly about getting the heartbreaking call on the morning of February 12th. An MTA Chaplain spoke of feeling “a type of love I hadn’t experienced in the 35 years I’ve been with the MTA” at the Quill Depot as members there remembered their fallen Brother. Samuelsen paid tribute to Peña’s memory by assuring his family that they will never be forgotten and that TWU Local 100 will do everything possible to ease their path forward.