Death At Triangle Square

Death at Triangle Square. What a horrible way to honor the life of a resident who died of natural causes, living in a place she wanted to live because GLEH helped make it possible for her to have an independent living apartment at an affordable price.

Recently Maria Dolores Diaz passed away in her apartment. An apartment provided at a reduced rate for lower income elderly gay and lesbian individuals. Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing provides a community environment for aging gays and lesbians to live a comfortable and peaceful existence while maintaining independence. This is not an assisted living building nor is it a place where your privacy will be disturbed by a roll call or bed check. This is a place where people who have been around longer than you or I, can live a respectable life with whatever freedoms their health will allow.

So why have Karen Ocamb and Margo Strik taken it upon themselves to attack something good that is being provided to this community? A recent article authored by Ms. Ocamb raises questions about why it took several days for the body of Ms. Diaz to be discovered after her death. I dare say that the delay would be the same if I lived alone and passed away in my own home. I am not required to check in or out of my house. I am not required to notify anyone when I decide to take a few days away nor am I required to interact with my neighbors when I choose not to, so why would these two individuals want to hold GLEH accountable for the delayed discovery of Ms. Diaz’ body? She was a woman living out her years as free and independent as she could with no obligation to report her whereabouts to anyone, much less the building manager of her independent living residence.

I am a supporter of GLEH and Triangle Square and I stand by the opportunities they try to provide to our communities elderly. I’m sorry Ms. Karen Ocamb and Ms. Margo Strik but I feel this was a serious misuse of your time and voice. Rather than write a piece about the glorious existence Ms. Diaz lived you’d rather attempt to further your political agenda by dragging down the very organization that helps the elderly remain self-reliant and independent. In a time when we should all be coming together to help one another you are attempting to drive a wedge between Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing and the community it serves.

It’s only fair to report that Ms. Strik still lives at Triangle Square and is afforded all that comes with being a resident there in. If it is as bad as she would like us to believe than why hasn’t she moved on?

***Names have been taken from the original article. The views and opinions listed above are my own and do not reflect or speak for the views of GLEH.