Sanman Remembered For His Dedication and Caring; Mayor, Doherty Pay Tribute

NELSON DIAZ: Popular Sanman mourned.

Mayor Bloomberg Aug. 14 praised the hard work, courage and dedication of a Sanitation Worker who died of a heart attack on the job three days earlier.

Nelson Diaz, 60, died slumped over the wheel of his garbage truck while driving the same Bronx route he tended for the last 15 years. "When [people on his route] heard the news, they reacted like it was a tragedy," said Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty during Mr. Diaz's wake at Ruggiero & Sons Funeral Home in The Bronx.

A Decorated Vietnam Vet

"I have heard a lot about his courage," the Mayor said. "First, there was the valiant service he performed for our country in Vietnam — earning him the Purple Heart. And then there was the bravery he showed simply by being a Mets fan who lived most of his life in The Bronx. Now that takes courage."

The Mayor and Commissioner Doherty said Mr. Diaz, a 23-year veteran of the department, had a lively spirit and was a favorite among co-workers, who affectionately called him "Nellie."

He was also, they said, a family man. "And his heart, well, that clearly belonged to his family, starting with his beautiful wife Ada, whom he met working in a law firm back in the early '70s," Mr. Bloomberg said. "I'm told Nelson would find excuses to leave the mailroom just so he could hang around her desk." Last month Mr. Diaz and his wife celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary.

Addressing his sons, Nelson Jr. and Omar, the Mayor said, "I know that he taught both of you the value of hard work. He was incredibly proud to see that lesson pay off, and also incredibly proud of the men you have become."

An Old-Fashioned Work Ethic

JOHN J. DOHERTY: 'Truck reflected his pride.'

Commissioner Doherty said Mr. Diaz's work ethic was exemplified by the fact that every inch of the truck was clean, and in a nod to the Sanitation Department of old, he would not let anyone else clean it. "Just by taking care of that truck it shows you what he thought of this job," he said.

He added that Mr. Diaz would report for duty even if he was sick, and when he did have doctor's appointments, he made sure they were on the weekends.

"I know that Nelson's loss was a sudden one, and that it has left a gaping hole in many lives," the Mayor said. "But I think we can take comfort in the fact that Nelson died full of hope for what the future would bring his family, and that Nelson lived a life that mattered."

Mr. Diaz was expecting another grandchild in January, in addition to his grandson Justin, with whom he enjoyed playing hide-and-seek. He also, Mr. Bloomberg noted, loved listening to Tito Puente and playing stickball with the Barrio Boys.

"His service to his country will not be forgotten," the Mayor said. "Nor will his service to this city. Clean streets are critical to our quality of life, and today, New York's streets are cleaner today than they've been in more than 30 years. We could never have accomplished that without men like Nelson."