Joseph Merizalde

Joseph Steven Merizalde, age 55, passed away on Monday, June 13, 2022, at approximately 7:10pm.
"Shey" or "Shea" as he was affectionately called (spelling dependent on where you knew him from) was surrounded by family at his departure.

Shey was born to his father Cesar Merizalde and his mother Hilda Ayala on Halloween 1966. It was no wonder that it was his favorite holiday.

If you know him well, you know some of his favorite things were science fiction, house music and hip hop and graffiti. He enjoyed DJ'ing and had an extensive cassette collection. His favorite foods were anything from White Castle and pizza. Shey was an avid handball player and love to compete in amateur competitions.

Shey was raised in the Bronx and Brooklyn and was very proud to be a product of both boroughs. High school was spent at John Dewey High School before graduating from Lafayette High School in Brooklyn.

After attending Kingsborough Community College, one of his first real jobs was working at Al-Anon, a job he loved because it allowed him to work with his beloved sister Inez.

Shey went on to be a peace officer working in the New York City Health and Hospital Corporation. Eventually, he became a doorman and worked at 1100 Park Avenue.

Shey married Lisa John on July 10, 2004 in Orlando, Florida. They were raising their two sons in the Co-op City section of the Bronx before relocating to Orlando Florida permanently and building a new community of friends and loved ones.

Shey is survived by his loving wife Lisa; their sons Joseph and Christian; his sister Inez and her husband Charles and their daughter, his niece, Marissa Ines; his sister Denise Pino-Llompart and her husband; and an entire community that loves and adores him. He will be greatly missed by all. He is preceded in death by his beloved parents Virgilio and Ines Gonzales and his second "mom" Edna John.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 9th at 11AM at Newcomer Funeral Home, located at 895 S. Goldenrod Road, Orlando, Florida.