Those who knew Jose Rene Portillo — the 55-year-old Queens superintendent beaten to death last week during an apparent rent dispute — are mourning his tragic loss on a GoFundMe page set up to help pay for his funeral.
According to Julissa Gomez, the GoFundMe’s creator, Portillo was a hard worker who cared about his job and “the embodiment of what it means to be a devoted father and family man.”
“Known throughout his community for his incredible work ethic, he never hesitated to help others in need. His greatest joy in life was caring for his family, and his loss leaves an irreplaceable void in all our lives,” Gomez wrote.
Portillo was murdered on Jan. 14 after being sent by his landlord to the home of 48-year-old Sandra Cotto Navarro at 137-17 70th Ave. in Flushing. His boss had asked him to collect thousands of dollars in unpaid rent from Navarro, but the meeting quickly turned horrifically wrong.
Police said Navarro allegedly struck Portillo over the head with a pipe, then stabbed him in the knee and neck, causing his death. She allegedly then tried to conceal his body in garbage bags and shoved the remains under a bed, which her husband — and, later, police — discovered.
As of Jan. 18, the GoFundMe for Portillo’s funeral expenses has raised over $10,000; some donors left messages of support and grief over the incident.
“Truly such a great man gone too soon – blessed to have known him in my lifetime. Thank you Rene for creating such great memories for us in our childhood. May you rest in peace. Danielle, Rene, and Amber, may you guys find peace in knowing how loved your dad was. Truly speaks to how great he was,” Robyn Lerebours wrote.
Navarro was charged on Jan. 16 with murder, tampering with physical evidence and criminal possession of a weapon. Portillo’s wife confronted her as police led the suspect out of the 107th Precinct stationhouse that day for arraignment.
“You killed my husband!” she yelled as Navarro was led to a waiting police car.
