Sanjay King
Sanjay King
December 10, 1980 ~ May 5, 2023
Remembering Sanjay "Ricky" King
Sanjay "Ricky" King was born December 10, 1980 in Clarendon, Jamaica to parents Elizabeth Thomas and Roddy King. Elizabeth worked as a CNA and Roddy worked on a ship in the import/export industry. Sadly, Roddy passed away early on in Ricky's life. At age 14, he moved to the United States and settled with his mother in the Bronx neighborhood of Co-Op City. Their family also included siblings, Neal Letts, Saquan Patterson, and Davon Patterson. His nieces and nephews were special to him; Taliyah - he knew she loved to dance/gymnastics and so made her portraits including those interests, Kynneal- used to spend hours playing video games and hanging out together, Kyler and Zoey- provided them candy and played with them.
Ricky began his high school career in Jamaica at Frankfield Comprehensive High School and went on to graduate from Harry Truman High School here in the United States. During his time in high school, Ricky excelled in the arts and enjoyed working with computers.
The first job Ricky had was at White Castle. He then joined the Navy and served his country as a DG-9700 Infantryman, gun crewman, and seamanship specialist. Ricky earned numerous decorations during his time in the Navy, including the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, three Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbons, and the Navy Pistol Shot Sharpshooter Ribbon. After his time in the Navy and Reserves, Ricky found camaraderie with his fellow veterans.
Outside of his time in the Navy, Ricky was involved in his church and had a deep faith. During his childhood years in Jamaica, he sang in the choir. Later, he was an active member of the Pentecostal Tabernacle (Bronx, NY) and played piano there into his adulthood. He loved music, the arts, and all things creative. From video games, to watching anime, to writing poems, to painting portraits, to composing his own melodies, Ricky found art and creativity in every step of his life.
Ricky treasured his friends. He looked forward to hanging out and just relaxing with his friend from school, Jonathan Booker. He found a worthy rival in video games and jokes with his friend, Wayne Solomon. Ricky enjoyed playing games and conversing about life with Sandeep, who he met when they lived in the same building in the Bronx. Ricky had his fair share of animal companions, too, and had a soft spot for any dogs or cats that crossed his path and needed caring for.
The two most important aspects of Ricky's life were his daughter and his faith. His daughter, Ariana, was a true joy in his life and they shared a special bond. Together, they played music and did art projects. They played video games, watched movies, rode their bikes, took walks in nature, and played dress-up. Ricky's legacy is that of a faithful and compassionate father - a selfless person who strove to give back to others.
Ricky will be missed profoundly. In life, he fought diligently to work through challenges with depression and mental health troubles from his time in combat. His enduring kindness and compassion in the face of these struggles is especially admirable. It is a comfort to know he is beyond all pain and sorrow and is finally able to rest in peace.
Sanjay's life will be remembered during his funeral service, 10:30am on Thursday, May 11th at the funeral home, 1411 Vintage Lane. He will be laid to rest in the Western New York National Cemetery in Corfu, NY. Donations may be sent to the Veteran's Outreach Center, 447 South Ave, Rochester NY 14620