Ailing Tenant in Eviction Dispute Dies

For the last two years, Lower East Side tenants and supporters have been protesting an attempt to evict Winston Manchand, who while seriously ill had temporarily left the Lower East Side apartment he shared with his partner of 29 years, John Curtis. The following is a piece written in memory of Manchand based on the recollections of Curtis, a Lower East Side resident for almost 30 years and a longtime neighborhood activist on housing and other social-justice issues.

Winston S. Manchand, who worked for several decades as a caregiver and companion to senior New Yorkers, died September 28 at Bellevue Hospital after a year-long illness. He was 55 years old.

Winston was born in Kingston, Jamaica on February 13, 1944, the son of Luke Manchand and Joyce Bernard.

He came to the United States in 1967 and began his career as a care-provider in New York City. In 1981, he moved into an apartment on East Third Street with his life partner, John Curtis.

Beginning two years ago Winston became the focal point of a broad-based struggle against one of the Lower East Side’s largest landlords, Matel Realty Company.

Neighbors, friends, community organizations and elected officials organized and rallied to defend Winston, a legal tenant, when Matel persisted in attempts to evict him from the home he had shared with John for 18 years. Although the case is still pending in Housing Court, Matel never succeeded in evicting Winston. According to Curtis, “The more debilitated Winston became, the more he suffered from Matel’s harassment. I believe the stress he was under as a result ruined his quality of life and hastened his death. But despite Matel’s best efforts, Winston remained in his home until the end, thanks to the efforts of our supporters.”

In addition to Curtis, Winston is also survived by his mother, Joyce Bernard; and his sister, Gene Manchand.

A memorial gathering will be held on Sunday, Nov. 7 at 4 PM at St. Mark’s Church, East 10th Street & Second Avenue. John asks that donations in Winston’s memory be made to one of the organizations that gave him unflagging support and encouragement, Metropolitan Council on Housing, 64 Fulton St., Rm. 401, New York, NY 10038.