Over the weekend, friends gathered in the Children’s Magical Garden to remember longtime local resident Eddy Menuau.
On June 26, Menuau was riding his bicycle near the intersection of Canal Street and Bowery when he was struck by the driver of an SUV. He suffered severe injuries. Menuau died of those injuries at Bellevue Hospital Aug. 14. A memorial service took place in the garden on Saturday.
In a Facebook post, Lower East Side-based photographer George Hirose wrote, “Eddy was a talented artist and carpenter, amongst many other things, and came from a tradition of storytellers and practical people who did things with their hands.” Hirose added, “Eddy was the rarest of all individuals: honest and direct, yet caring and sensitive. Eddy did not need much, and the things that were important to him were simple… friends, community and the freedom to lead his life the way he wanted to with no one telling him what to do.”
Menuau grew up in Haiti, and had been living at the NYC Rescue Mission at the time of the collision. He was 59.
A 67-year-old man driving a 2011 Ford Escape remained at the scene and was not charged. Police said Menuau cycled through the intersection on a red light.
