The news came suddenly and without any other explanation. On Saturday, April 20, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the loss of City Hall employee Pedro Frisneda. Mr. Frisneda was recently nominated deputy director in the Mayor’s Office of Ethnic and Community Media and was previously deputy press secretary of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).
Mr. Frisneda’s cause of death was not shared. He was a “bilingual journalist passionate about public health and science,” quoting his X bio. He first graduated at Universidad Central de Venezuela and then at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism in New York.
“Our hearts are heavy today at the loss of one of our team members, Pedro Frisneda. Pedro had an exuberance and love for this city and was an integral part of the team at both City Hall and at the Department of Health. He worked tirelessly to connect different communities from across the five boroughs and was always willing to go the extra mile to help his colleagues. He frequently told our team about how proud he was to work for the greatest city in the world after immigrating here from Venezuela. Our entire team is mourning today, and we are praying for his family, his friends, and all his loved ones. May he rest in peace,” Mayor Adams’ statement read.
DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Vasan also mourned Mr. Frisneda. “Pedro was a joyful beam of light who worked night and day to build bridges across languages and communities. During his time at the Health Department, he frequently spent weekends and evenings supporting vaccination clinics and health care enrollment programs, while always being ready to help his colleagues in the press corps. I and his Health Department family are devastated by this loss, while grateful for the years of friendship and service we shared. We will miss him dearly and we’re especially thinking of his family and loved ones at this tragic time.”
Reporters from La Voce di New York were working with him on an interview with the Mayor. His kindness and fairness were always very appreciated.
