22,500 Dead: Remembering Californians We Lost To Coronavirus

CALIFORNIA— The United States recently surpassed yet another devastating milestone. To date, more than 300,000 Americans have lost their lives to the coronavirus. In California, the state marked its own grim milestone on Sunday, surpassing 22,590 Californians dead from the virus.

They are impossible numbers. It’s also impossible to convey the full extent of the losses using only numbers.

Every death has meant more than a statistic. A child lost his mother; a mother lost her child and maybe her own mother, too. A community lost a teacher, a mentor, a student, a coach. The front line lost a nurse, a doctor, an EMT, a hospital orderly.

We all lost some of our heroes.

Here at Patch, we know your friends, families and loved ones are more than numbers. As we mark 300,000 deaths at the hands of the coronavirus, we want to help you remember them. We want others to know them. We want to help you share their stories.

Read some of the tributes and stories already submitted to Patch.

Do you have a story to share? Using the form below, we invite you to tell us about the loved ones you've lost — who they were, what they enjoyed, and what difference they made in your life. You can also submit a photo. All tributes will then be compiled in a searchable virtual memorial.