Gay couple who distributed over 180,000 backpacks to unhoused people die within days of each other
Jayson Conner and Jeffrey Newman were beloved pillars of their community
A gay New York couple – who were beloved fixtures in their community– have tragically died within a few days of each other.
According to The New York Times, Jayson Conner died of a heart attack on 28 June; he was 48. Four days later, his husband, 58-year-old Jeffrey Newman, died on 2 July.
As of this writing, Newman's cause of death has not been revealed.
Conner is survived by his two children, Jewlia and Andrew, whom he had with his ex-wife Leslie Manfre. Newman is survived by his parents, Ted and Joyce, his brothers Glenn and Ric and his sister Beth.
Over the last few years, the beloved couple – who ran the nonprofit Together Helping Others – became staple figures within New York City for their many acts of community service.
