This archive report was first published on 15 May 2020.
The Virus Killed an Officer. His Town Lined the Streets to Mourn Him. ¶
On May 15, 2020, the people of Glen Ridge, New Jersey, paid tribute to Officer Charles Roberts, who died from complications of the coronavirus, with a massive display of solidarity as his hearse made its way to the cemetery.
For three weeks, the town had kept vigil over Officer Roberts, who had collapsed at home and been revived by fellow officers. They had prayed for him, placed signs on their doors, windows, and lawns that read “#ROBSTRONG,” and pooled money to buy food for the nurses and doctors who cared for him.
Despite their efforts, Officer Roberts never made it back home to his wife and three children. He was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, where he never regained consciousness.
On the day of his memorial service, the town came together to honor him. By the hundreds, they filed out of their homes and stood on their porches, front yards, and sidewalks, placing their hands over their hearts as the hearse carrying his body made its way to the cemetery.
Many wore blue and orange, the colors of the New York Mets, Officer Roberts’s favorite baseball team, and saluted as the hearse drove by, escorted by dozens of police cars and motorcycles from nearby towns and cities.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in this town or anything close to it,” said Stuart Patrick, the mayor of Glen Ridge.
Officer Roberts was a beloved member of the community, known for his kindness and compassion. He had been a police officer in Glen Ridge since 2000 and had mentored students in the town’s schools. His wife, Alice Baker-Roberts, had taught children in the town’s school district since 1997.
As the town mourned the loss of Officer Roberts, they remembered his many acts of kindness and generosity. He had bought breakfast sandwiches and coffee for homeless people he encountered on Bloomfield Avenue and had always seen the good in people.
“He still liked people,” said Ms. Baker-Roberts. “He always saw the good in people.”
