QUEENS, N.Y. — A prominent figure in the local gay community died Thursday after being removed from life support.
Lou Rispoli, 62, died from injuries sustained in a savage, early morning attack last week. Police are continuing to search for his murderers.
Lou Rispoli
Photo courtesy: NYPD
Rispoli, who worked as an administrator at the Greenwich House Music School and lived in the gay neighborhood of Sunnyside for the past three decades, was attacked at around 2 a.m. on October 20 on 43rd Avenue in Queens.
According to a published account by New York’s Gay City News, Rispoli was hit in the head with a blunt object with such force that neighbors who heard the assault, but did not see it, thought he had been shot.
City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, who represents Sunnyside, said two men attacked Rispoli. A third man is believed to have kept watch at their nearby car.
Police are investigating whether Rispoli’s sexual orientation played a role in the attack.
“Lou was a proud gay man,” Van Bramer said Thursday. “He fought for full equality for our community. But I don’t know if he was attacked because he was a gay man. This is a good and safe neighborhood where gay men and lesbians can walk the streets and be who they are.”
“That such a man who’s life has touched so many of us so deeply should be struck down so violently is incomprehensible to us,” said the victim’s friend, Mark Horn.
Rispoli is survived by his husband, who he married in August 2001 — on their 31st anniversary — after same-sex marraige was legalized in New York. The couple met on the subway in 1980 and raised two daughters together.
Filed under: New York
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That is awful.
aww!
atrocious!!!!
He will be missed
I’m so sorry, my condolence to his family! I hope the catch whoever did this.
my prayers go out to his husband and their kids
R.I.P…This is sooo sad
Condolences to Rispoli’s husband, daughters and friends.
RIP Sir.
This pisses me off beyond belief!! RIP
RIP, brave soul .
:’(
people disgust me :(
:(
… JUSTICE!!!
This is truely sad!.. a lot of gay & lesbians get killed in ny..he’s in peace now!.
Rest peacefully dear man.
My condolence to his family. This is tragic and shameful.
May he Rest in Peace, and God Bless his family.
Saddening.
So sad RIP!
We must justify this mans life and the only way can do him any justice is to secure equal rights for all Americans! Vote!!! We have an opportunity to make equal rights a reality!!!
Hate is a bad thing And Disgusting, It has to stop.
WHY? Its is all so sad!
May he rest in peace and may justice be served!
This bullshit has to STOP!!
Very sad… may he rip
:-( RIP Lou
very troubling
RIP Lou Rispoli… My condolences to the family..
My condolences.
Damn, ill keep his family in prayer, thats fucked up smdh
How sad!!
Tragic.
This bullshit has to stop. This is not what GOD wants. We are to love one another, be accepting to all. Love all creations… Very sad, prayers to the family.
{dislike} R.I.P.
I am beyond disgusted about this crime. I hope and pray the killers are brought to justice. They will pay!!
Tragedy
@Chad Abrams i thought you wear going to say beyond belief fact or fiction. -_-
Condollences to family/friends.. I hope the killers can be brought to justice for this heinous act.
So sad :-( his poor husband
Very sad, just when you think things are getting better.
& the GOP, & right wingnuts do not care!
How sad!
This has shaken me emotional even though I have seen this kinda stuff happen to friends first hand. I have not the words only condolences to his partner & his family.
Oh =’(
So sad.my heart goes out to all his family and friends…
So horrible.
I’m saying prayers for his family today!
Such sad news. My condolences and prayers for him and his family.
This is not only a sad day, but also marks the day we stand up and make all of our communities respect all human life, and we do it for all of those who came before us. We do it for those who have left this earth before us. This labeling and hatred must stop! I didn’t ever know or meet Lou, but he was obviously someone special. He gave all he had, to include his life. We must now all give all we have to remember Lou and all the others who died only for being who they are. I hope Lou’s family and friends get to see this, because with these words I promise that somehow, some day, all humans will be equals and all will have the right to be who they are without anyone interfering or committing hate crimes to force their beliefs on others!
This is so sad
This is why equal rights is so important! Because there are people out there that are truly evil. They believe we are second class citizens and without a change in each state and a change at the federal level we will always be treated as such. My condolences to his family and friends.
Amber, u r so right, and if Romney gets in we will see more hate crime. But we will not take it anymore, I can tell you the time has come for America to hear us LOUD….NO MORE HATE!!!
RIP
At least he’s not suffering. I wish the best for his family. Know that he is finally at peace
Senseless
So sad. My thoughts are with his family.
This makes me so angry. No one has the right to end someone else’s life just because they have different beliefs.
…………………. so sad ! …….. omg man cant believe people
So incredibly sad.
Very sad…RIP
So, sad!
It doesn’t seem like this was motivated by his sexual orientation.
So sad.
This makes me mad as hell. His killers I hope will pay. I guarantee it’s time to say enough! And fight back any way you can, cause apparently no one else will!
OMG, This is just horrific. I hope there are angels who are embracing him.
R.I.P. what a senseless act….
No! {sighs} Rest In Peace my friend. The thread of your life was cut far too short.
Find the killer and ask him if it was worth it??
Im looking for a real girl. If youre from jersey or near the area add me<3