The tree came uprooted during a nor'easter that hit the area. Tenant association president James Alcivar told NY1 he heard a loud boom followed by sirens and knew something had gone wrong.
Alcivar identified the victim as Leighton Brown, a longtime NYCHA employee at the development. He described Brown as one of the best workers at Cyprus Hills, the person tenants called when something needed fixing in their homes.
"He comes here dedicated," Alcivar said. "As you can see, this tragic accident, he was doing what he loved."
Alcivar's comments paint a picture of a worker embedded in daily life at the development, someone tenants trusted and turned to directly rather than through layers of bureaucracy.
The storm's force was a reminder of how fast a nor'easter can turn deadly for anyone caught outside when the wind picks up.