Bradley Beach Mom Of 3 Who Helped So Many Dies Of Coronavirus

BRADLEY BEACH – Diana Tennant came to the aid of so many, even as she was a mother of three and a grandmother.

It was that kindness that people remembered through tears this week when they learned that Diana had died, another victim of the coronavirus that has now killed more than 1,200 people in New Jersey.

Gov. Phil Murphy paid tribute to Diana during his daily press briefing on Tuesday, saying: "She is remembered as somebody who always had time to lend a hand. Diana was only 51 years old and had so much more to give."

She was a leader within the Latino Coalition of the New Jersey and a past chair of the the Latino Festival of Monmouth County, an event Murphy said he's attended a number of times.

Tennant, 51, worked for Fulfill and helped feed "countless families," Murphy said, in Monmouth and Ocean counties. The group is formerly known as The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

"One of the kindest persons I've met," said Lázaro Cárdenas, who worked with her on the Latino Festival of Monmouth County and in many other capacities.

Cárdenas noted that the Latino Coalition of New Jersey is an organization dedicated to the protection civil rights and fighting for immigrants rights.

"Diana Tennant was an active member of our community, a mom to three boys who she adored and was always proud of, but perhaps one of the things that gave her much joy was helping others," Cárdenas said.

"Her time on this earth was spent improving the lives of others, especially those who were less fortunate," Cárdenas added.

Former Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who is chief executive officer and president of Fulfill, said in a statement that “it is an incredibly sad day at Fulfill, as we lost a champion for the hungry, a dedicated colleague, and a dear friend,” according to The Asbury Park Press.

The Press noted that, before the outbreak, Fulfill was feeding 136,000 people in Monmouth and Ocean Counties per year, and 50,000 of them were children. Over the past 18 days, Fulfill has served an additional 170,000 meals to people in need as a direct result of school closures and job losses, according to The Press.