Every morning, before many people had even started their day, John Altidor was already at work.
Family members say he was the type of man who beat the sun.
He was dependable, dedicated and hardworking.
“He was a hardworking person,” Victoria said. “He would be the first at his job.”
Now, the family of the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority employee is struggling to come to terms with his sudden death.
Altidor, 55, died on Tuesday after being struck by a vehicle while carrying out roadside cleanup duties along John F. Kennedy Highway.
Police said the incident happened around 11 a.m. as Altidor attempted to cross the roadway. He was struck by an eastbound vehicle.
His loved ones say the tragedy is difficult to comprehend.
His niece, Victoria Joseph, remembers him not only as a dedicated worker but as someone whose personality lit up a room.
“He was very lovable, very humble,” she said.
While Altidor took his responsibilities seriously, family members say he also knew how to enjoy life.
He loved spending time with relatives, shooting pool, laughing and creating memories with his family and friends.
“He was the life of the party,” Victoria said.
Victoria said she spoke with her uncle just days before his death.
It was a simple conversation. His passport had been damaged, and she encouraged him to renew it soon.
“You better hurry up because you’ll miss out on flights if you don’t get it renewed,” she recalled telling him.
Waiting until payday to take care of it, Altidor laughed off her concern. “I am not missing any flights,” he replied.
She could not have known that the conversation would become their final.
Altidor never had children of his own, but he leaves behind a family who loved him dearly and who are now grappling with a loss that feels impossible to accept.
“Words cannot describe how my family and I feel right now,” Victoria said.
“The way he died was brutal…This is a blow. It took a toll on our family.
Victoria thought he had plenty of time ahead of him. Instead, she is left holding on to the memories, the conversations and the reminder that life can change in an instant.