Bergen Navy Veteran Who Died In Afghanistan Loved His Country

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Kevin Yali made it his life's work to serve others. He took care of his parents from a young age. He encouraged his friends and relatives when they were downtrodden. And he served his country as a member of the Navy.

Yali, 27, a Midland Park resident, died suddenly in Afghanistan Wednesday. Yali honorably served in the Navy and was deployed to Afghanistan four times. He was an independent contractor with Constellis when he died Wednesday. Constellis provides security services for people in high-risk environments and in remote areas of the world.

"He had an extensive, extreme amount of American pride," said Yali's aunt, Wanda Rojas. "His love and passion for the country and everything it meant to him and what serving stood for is what he loved the most. I don’t think there is a person on this planet who could say a negative thing about him."

Yali attended the U.S. Naval Academy immediately after graduating from Midland Park High School. He was born in Paterson.

Yali always encouraged others and built them up when he knew someone needed it.

"If you were having a bad day he would make sure that you knew better days were coming," Rojas said. "If there was anything he could do for you at the moment, he would be there for you, unconditionally."

Yali was head of his household and helped care for his disabled parents since he was young, Rojas said.

Yali is survived by his parents, Oscar and Daisy Yali, brothers Oscar Yali and Victor Patrocino, and Rojas and her husband, his uncle and aunt who are also his godparents.

Visitation with the family is Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home, 530 High Mountain Road, in Franklin Lakes. Cremation will be private.

Rojas said she would miss "everything" about her nephew.

"Most importantly though," Rojas said, her voice cracking with emotion, "he was so genuine. He loved everything he stood for and everyone. And he never, ever allowed something negative to bring him down."

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com