Brooklyn community mourns 64-year-old Nicola Tanzi, church volunteer beaten to death outside subway station

A Brooklyn community gathered on Friday night to honour 64-year-old Nicola Tanzi, a beloved church volunteer and security guard who was fatally beaten outside the Jay Street-MetroTech subway station on October 7, according to the New York Post. More than 100 relatives and friends attended his wake at Andrew Torregrossa and Sons Funeral Home.

Tanzi, an Italian immigrant who had lived in Bensonhurst, worked near the station for 15 years. He was attacked without provocation while holding a door open. His nephew, David Tanzi, described him as “a wonderful, caring human being” whose infectious laugh and generosity touched everyone he met.

A simple life devoted to faith

Known for his simplicity and strong faith, Tanzi avoided modern technology and devoted his spare time to helping his church community. He attended both St. Dominic’s Church and Sacred Hearts of Mary and Jesus & St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church in Carroll Gardens.

His brother, Anthony Tanzi, recalled his humble lifestyle. “He never had an email, he never had a cell phone. That’s the way he liked it,” he said. “He was involved in a lot of things… a lot more things than I’d ever do. He decided he was going to retire, come out to Long Island and do all the things we used to do as kids. He never got the chance. He was robbed.”

Tanzi was cremated before the wake, with his urn surrounded by flowers and family photographs.

Longtime friend Richard Ravaloi described him as one of the kindest people he had ever met. “Nicky was always in a good mood, laughing and joking. He’d never hurt anybody,” he said. “He went to work and back every day from that subway station. To have something like that happen, and the way that it did, he didn’t deserve that.”

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Authorities charged 25-year-old David Mazariegos with first-degree murder. Prosecutors said he struck Tanzi twice without warning, knocked him down, and continued to kick him even after he was unconscious. Tanzi sustained a fractured skull, crushed nasal bone, and several facial injuries, later dying in hospital.

Mazariegos allegedly told police he attacked Tanzi because he “didn’t like the way he looked at him” and claimed he had “taken his spirit.” He is currently being held at Rikers Island without bail.