Update: ‘He was the light in the room.’ Dad mourns son, 25, killed in Staten Island car wreck >>
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Spending time with each other, as well as their vast network of friends, was something that brothers Joshua Mendez, 26, and Jose Pazos, 27, often did as popular young people who were frequently on the go.
It was no surprise that the New Brighton siblings decided to take Mendez’s beloved hot rod for a drive with close friend Raymond Irizarry, 25, early on Sunday morning.
That drive ended in a single-car crash on the New Jersey-bound Staten Island Expressway just before 4:20 a.m. that cost all three men their lives.
“They just always looked out for each other,” close friend Julia Cruz recalled. “Jose always was like, ‘No, I’m not leaving my brother.’”
Photos of brothers Jose Pazos and Joshua Mendez in younger days are displayed on a vigil table in their home in New Brighton.(Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)
Friends and family described Mendez and Pazos as inseparable, with Pazos rarely leaving his younger brother’s side.
Family was everything to the siblings, friends said.
According to a GoFundMe page created to help with burial expenses, the brothers came from a large family with five other siblings.
They grew up in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn before moving to Staten Island 16 years ago.
The brothers shared passions for football, Bachata music, and high-end fashion. Their sneaker collection alone boasted more than 60 pairs, complemented by a love of gold chains.
A photo of Jose Pazos, 27, stands on a vigil table inside his home.(Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)
The GoFundMe also noted that Oct. 10 was meant to be a day of celebration for the family, as it marked Pazos’ 28th birthday and the expected due date of Mendez’s son.
Mendez leaves behind a daughter, while Pazos, though childless, was a proud “Tio” to 10 nieces and nephews.
The family holds hope that Mendez’s unborn son, Joshua Jr., will carry on the brothers’ legacy, a child they believe may be “a reincarnation of both of them.”
Here is a family photo with Mirna Mendez, mom and her 7 sons as they celebrate a grandsons birthday.
(Courtesy the Mendez family) STATEN ISLAND ADVANCELosing her sons has been devastating
Mirna Mendez, their mother, shared one of her final joyful memories with her sons just days before the crash: Joshua dancing and laughing with loved ones.
“The last time we were together, Saturday, Joshua, Jose, my husband and their friends — Joshua was so happy,” the mother somberly recalled. “He danced and was laughing.”
Pazos was remembered by Cruz as deeply caring and forgiving. Despite their romantic breakup, she said he never held a grudge and, along with his mother, always offered her a place to stay during difficult times.
Joshua Mendez and his girlfriend, Kimberly Lopez, who is expecting a child soon.
(Courtesy the Mendez family) STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
Both men, who were employed by Amazon, were described as hardworking. Mendez was a car enthusiast who also loved video games. His mother said he was outgoing, friendly, and always smiling, traits that made him well-liked by many.
Pazos was a passionate football fan, especially of the New England Patriots.
Photo of Raymond Irizarry in younger days. (Courtesy the Mendez family)STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
The third victim of the crash, the siblings’ good friend, Irizarry, also a New Brighton resident, was remembered by Mirna Mendez as a “good boy.”
Whenever he came over to hang out, he’d always greet her with the utmost respect.
A fundraiser for Joshua Mendez and Jose Pazos’ funeral expenses can be found at gofundme.com/f/joshua-mendez-jose-pazos.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.