Max is a 4-year-old with double vision. Her parents are navigating treatment through the complications of Covid.

This piece was produced and edited by H Conley with help from Veralyn Williams and Amanda Aronczyk. Music is from Sugartree by Blue Dot Sessions.

Seeing Double

At her home in Queens, NY, in April of 2023, Maria Del Rosario Duran described her first son, Alex Ramon Jimenez Duran, as the leader of the family. Alex was a Staff Sergeant for the U.S. Army who pursued a career in public service. On May 12th, 2007, Alex’s unit, the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) was captured by enemy forces in Jurf Sakhar, Iraq, after his unit was attacked. His body was recovered in Iraq on July 8, 2008, confirming his passing 14 months after the capture. 

In this audio fragment, Maria recalls her firstborn son's memory describing why a military career attracted him. “For Alex the most important thing is family,” his mother explained.

Alex Ramon Jimenez Duran

Ortner Murray, who loved to be called by his childhood nickname Von, became a beloved member of the community in Corona, Queens. Originally from Trinidad & Tobago, he moved to the U.S. with his family in the 1960s.

In  the 1970s he opened a shoe repairing shop, which later became a store and a place for people who needed help navigating various systems in New York City and helped small business owners.

His daughter, Josette Murray says, he was full of life and adored his family, his community and Queens.

Credits:
Audio story and text by Mariam Kiparoidze
Photos of Ortner Von Murray provided by Josette Murray
Music by Stonefree (https://freesound.org/people/Jay_You/)

Josette Murray on Ortner Von Murray

This account showcases work produced by students in the Audio Journalism Program at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York (CUNY).

Josette Murray on Ortner Von Murray

Newmark J-School Audio Journalism

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