Gov. Phil Murphy announced 69 additional deaths from COVID-19 during Tuesday’s briefing, bringing the statewide death toll to 267, with two of the latest victims being in their 30s.

 

Israel Tolentino, 33, was living his dream as a Passaic firefighter, and now the fire department, and his loved ones, are mourning his death.

Police, EMTs, and other first responders stood at attention as his body was taken from the hospital to the funeral home.

 PHOTOS: Scenes of eerie calm amid coronavirus pandemic

 

Tolentino leaves behind a wife and two children. He's being remembered for his dedication to the community.

"He just became a firefighter in 2018, about a year and a half,” says Passaic Mayor Hector Lora. “He was an EMT prior to that and just an amazing member of our community. It was his lifelong dream to be a firefighter."

Ben Luderer was only 30 years old. He was a Cliffside Park teacher and baseball coach.

The school remembers him as a "great coach, teacher, friend and always a mentor and role model for students…. Whose love of baseball pushed his players to new heights.”