SMB Benny Diaz Losses Battle with Coronavirus

Structure Division is mourning the passing of another Brother to the Coronavirus.  Venancio “Benny” Diaz, a veteran SMB with 21 years on the job, passed away on April 30, 2020 at Staten Island University Hospital.  He was just shy of his 59th birthday.  He is the third Local 100 member from Structure Division to die of the virus.

Brother Diaz was born on May 18, 1961 in a small town called San Juan Nepopualco in the state of Tlaxcala, Mexico. He emigrated to New York in the mid 1980’s.  He worked multiple jobs including cook, painter, and construction worker.  He finally found his permanent career when he joined the MTA in 1999. According to his daughter, Teresa, he enjoyed listening to the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, BeeGees, the Doors, and Vicente Fernandez in his spare time. He also enjoyed creating wooden crafts for his grandchildren and never hesitated in helping out anyone in need.

He is survived by his parents, Roberto Diaz Rocha and Teresa Herrera Barba, his wife of 38 years, Marina Diaz, along with their three daughters and one son, Heidi Sanchez, Nancy Rivera, Teresa Palafox and Angel Diaz; a daughter from an earlier union, Karla Jimenez, and 11 grandchildren.