Deaf community mourns death of José Granda
Many in the Deaf community are mourning the death of José Granda, a Deaf ASL instructor at Miami Dade College who was also a well-known workshop presenter and ASL entertainer that traveled nationwide. He died in a serious car accident early Sunday morning in Miami. He was 69.
A Facebook post by a colleague said he was a “proud Cuban immigrant from Havana” and a “fixture of support in the Deaf and gay communities of Miami and beyond.”
The Deaf Queer Resource Center posted a tribute that explained that José, a “proud Deaf gay Cuban,” graduated from the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in 1973 and then Gallaudet College in 1979. He was active with the National Theatre of the Deaf and the Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf. The DQRC said he was a “proud leatherman and a former 1994-1995 International Mr. Deaf Leather titleholder” and that one of his most notable workshops was on sex signs.
There are many posts on social media from those who knew José or met him throughout life. Personally, I had the chance to meet José at a Deaf Celebration event in Fort Worth, Texas on September 2017. I am saddened that he has departed and it is definitely a loss for our community.
———
[Sponsored video from Convo: www.convorelay.com]
———
[Advertisement from Disaster Distress Helpline: After a disaster, you may be at risk for emotional distress. Warning signs can include feeling isolated, anxious, having trouble sleeping and more. If you or someone you know is Deaf or hard of hearing, the Disaster Distress Helpline offers a direct videophone option. This free service for ASL users is answered 24/7 by trained crisis workers fluent in ASL and can be accessed using any videophone-enabled device and dialing 1-800-985-5990 or at disasterdistress.samhsa.gov.]
———
Some people sent me links to an article that explained what happened in the car accident. 7 News Miami reported that there was a crash between a car — presumably driven by José — and a tow truck near Southwest 22nd Avenue and 17th Lane.
A person who lived nearby said the impact sounded like an explosion and when she rushed outside, she saw a car that was mangled and engulfed in flames. The person said an off-duty police officer and others rushed to the scene. The tow truck driver was rescued but the fire in the car was too large for first responders to stop in time to save the driver / José. The news report said police are investigating what caused the crash.
https://wsvn.com/news/local/miami-dade/driver-killed-in-fiery-crash-involving-tow-truck-in-miami/