Ret. ADW William Mendoza In Memoriam We mourn his passing and recall some Correction History images in his life. |
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In 2007, retired NYC Correction Officer Jimmy Vann, who among other things used to do the illustrations and cartoons for DOC newsletters and other departmental publications, sent the New York Correction History web site an intriguing group photo.
Because of those information gaps, the webmaster cast the picture as being a bit of a mystery. Thus was born the DOC Mystery Photo. Only at the time, the idea of doing such a photo series hadn't yet dawned on those involved. So the first in what eventually became the series wasn't given a number. Prominent in the unnumbered original "mystery photo" was ADW Bill Mendoza, up front and center with his ceremonial honor guard shoulder cord and his all-embracing smile. Among those responding to the orginal "mystery photo" appearing on the correction history site was the retired ADW, ex-Bronx-ite living in the Orlando, Florida, area. He wrote:
On December 30, 2009, Bill again contacted the correction history web site with an email offer of images:
After receiving an affirmative response to his generous offer, Mendoza sent a series of four emails with image attachments on January 06, 2010:
This photo was the first time members of the Departmental Recruitment Unit set up a recruitment push with a photographic display of the various assignments within the Department. This was at the Coliseum on 59th street and Columbus Circle. Officer David Melendez on the left - myself - and a female officer whose name I can not remember.
L to R, Officer Ed Zapatoki, L-R, Marron Hopkins, myself, Marine Sgt (name unk) Jacquline McMikens, Marine Major (name unk) and Officer David Melendez.
Can't remember much as far as names and dates. This is what happens when you reach 50 years of age!!! Just kidding . . . . . . .
The images and caption notes which Bill transmitted in the separate emails were assembled into a correction history web site page entitled DOC mystery photos 13 - 16: From Ret. ADW William Mendoza's Scrapbook
On May 24th, 2012, C.O. Barry Raboy posted on the Facebook New York Correction History group page a Nov. 24th, 1975 photo he had come across on the Internet. He invited any other members of the NY Correction History FB group to help him identify the Rikers Island facility area in which the photo was taken during the period when inmate rioters held hostage five Correction Officers, all eventually released. His invitation generated some interesting responses which this site's webmaster (who happens to double as the FB group admin) incorporated into a web page that included additional information and images. That page's icon box on the site's home page refers to the Raboy-submitted image as a "Mystery Photo." (See enlarged version below right.) Among the comments generated by the Facebook posting and the web site's page were two identifying Bill Mendoza as among those in the Mystery Photo.
7 Block at HDM, Bill Mendoza siting on stool with helmet on his lap.
Evelyn A Mirabal At the start of March 2014, Jimmy Vann and Jacqueline Perry brought to the attention of their fellow Facebook New York Correction History group members the sad news of Bill's passing. Later, when more information became known, the following was reported: "Memorial service for "Note* Ana, (Bill's wife) stated, it was Bill's wishes that instead of flowers, he preferred that any donations be made to: "Alzheimer's Assoc or "The Orlando Union Rescue Mission In her March 1st 2014 message reporting of Bill's passing, the words of Ms. Perry, though brief, serve well to convey the sentiments of many of his NY Correction colleagues: I have just been informed that Retired ADW Billy Mendoza has passed away in Florida
He was a nice, kind, compassionate man who cared about his staff and the professional way we did our job. Billy was an instructor at the Academy and well respected throughout the Department... He will be missed. R.I.P. |