Westfield Auxiliary Police Officers Mike Kearns and Jon Jedlicka were part of the several hundred visitors to the Sons of Erin last night as part of a community picnic for the late Jose Torres. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – Often, tragedy brings out the best in people, and the accidental death of 27-year Westfield Police veteran Jose Torres has done just that.
Westfield rallied around the Torres family, something that was apparent yesterday at a reception following Torres’ burial in Pine Hill Cemetery.
Hundreds of people gathered at the Sons of Erin for what could only be called a celebration of life.
“Jose would have loved this,” said Torres’ longtime friend Dan Puza, referring to the music and laughter from family and friends yesterday afternoon.
Puza, owner of North Elm Butcher Block, organized the reception, which was a huge volunteer effort.
“We made a lot of phone calls to a lot of people and a lot of distributors,” said Puza.
All the food, from hot dogs and hamburgers, to drinks, tents, tables and chairs, were all donated to honor Torres.
“It’s unbelievable,” he said. “Everyone that came here came with a purpose – to honor Jose.”
North Elm Butcher Block, the Sons of Erin, Kayem, C & S Wholesale, Big Y, Coca-Cola, Arnold’s Meats, 90 Meat Outlet, Costco, B.J.’s, Party Plus, AmeriGas, Allied Waste and the 104th Fighter Wing all made donations for the reception.
The Hispanic community brought food and volunteers and all the desserts were homemade by friends and the community.
Puza said organizing it all was a big job, but it was all for Torres.
“He was a great guy and a good friend of mine,” said Puza. “I’ve known him 30-plus years.”
Puza said he and Torres “met everywhere” around the city. For many years, the two men traveled annually to Canada with a hockey team.
“We had a lot of good times,” he said.
Westfield resident Robert Tirrell, a retired firefighter, knew Torres and his deceased father Jesus, and had nothing but kind words for both men. Tirrell said, despite a language barrier, he and Jesus were good friends.
“He couldn’t speak English and I didn’t speak Puerto Rican, but we communicated well,” he said.
Tirrell said the family is well-known and liked.
“It’s a great family . . . He was a hell of a guy,” Tirrell said of Torres.
Big Y employees Stacy Lannon and Maureen Fuller were among a group of volunteers from the store who helped in any way they could yesterday.
“We like to help our community,” said Lannon. “We’re helping clean, cook – anything they need.”
Fuller said Big Y allowed employees to come on work time. However, most wanted to volunteer for the Torres family and Torres’ brothers and sisters at the police department.
“The Westfield Police Department is so good to us and we’ve got to be there for them,” Fuller said.
