albanyweblog.com
Updated
June 21, 2007
Published in the Hearst Times Union
Times Union
Section: Capital Region, Page: B4
Saturday, August 5, 2006Dead cyclist noted as man who liked debate
ALBANY - Jose Perez was remembered Friday as a man who enjoyed a good debate over the state of the world.
Perez, 60, who was struck and killed as he rode his bike downtown Thursday evening, had lived in the DeWitt Clinton Apartments on State Street for the past five or so years, said his next-door neighbor, Harry Wilcox.
"He was a private guy, but we would get involved in discussions from time to time. He was very passionate and he was not happy with the politics in this country," Wilcox said. "People who were walking past would think we were going at it, but we both just liked a good debate."
Perez, who was dealing with liver problems, didn't own a car and used his bicycle to get around, often taking rides at the Corning Preserve bike path along the Hudson River, Wilcox said. "He went all over on that bike," he said.
Dusk was falling at about 8:30 p.m. when Perez crossed into traffic near Quay Street and Broadway. A sport utility vehicle heading north couldn't stop and struck the cyclist head-on. Perez was pronounced dead at the scene.
"He was probably coming back from the preserve and was a little late. It probably didn't help that he wasn't wearing a helmet," Wilcox said.
The driver, who passed a sobriety test at the scene, will not be ticketed, police said.
- Brian Nearing
This site maintained by Lynne Jackson of Jackson's Computer Services.