‘31 years is too young’: Family mourns youngest COVID-19 victim in Massachusetts
Riley Rumrill died Sunday at Boston Medical Center.
A 31-year-old Boston man who died from COVID-19 is being remembered by his loved ones for bringing laughter and joy to those around him.Riley Rumrill died Sunday, his family said. The 31-year-old Alabama native is believed to be the youngest victim lost to the novel coronavirus in Massachusetts. As of Wednesday, there have been 7,738 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 122 deaths attributed to the virus in the Bay State.“He always had a way of filling the room with laughter, love and joy,” Riley’s brother, Robert Rumrill, wrote on Facebook. “I remember when he moved to Boston I was beyond thrilled to be able to spend more time with him. And I’ll cherish every second we’ve spent together.”The brothers had spent 10 days traveling in Colombia in February, he said. Riley was the third of four boys in the family, his mother, Diane, told CBS Boston.“He’s the one that always had everybody laughing,” she told the station. “He was jolly and he’s just a good guy to be around.”“He had the time of his life and I’m so blessed that we were able to spend that time with him,” his brother Robert wrote of the trip. “It was one of his life long dreams.”
https://www.facebook.com/rrumrill/posts/10157388419364737
The trip was centered on Riley’s 31st birthday on March 2, the Boston Globe reports, but about three weeks after the trip, the Alabama native began experiencing flu-like symptoms. He went to Boston Medical Center with a high fever, but the family wasn’t worried.
“We played the numbers just like everybody else,” his brother, Robert, told the Globe. “We knew he needed some extra attention because he had a little bit of asthma … But he was a young guy, and young guys are supposed to bounce back quicker.”
But in two days, he was moved to the intensive care unit, where he was put on a ventilator.
His brother, Ranger Rumrill, shared an update on Facebook on March 28, asking people to pray for the 31-year-old.
“He was admitted a few days ago, which feels like forever ago … and realized some slight improvements in the initial days,” Ranger wrote. “However, today we were informed that he remains in critical condition and that the next 24-48 hours are important for Riley to kick in and fight the virus.”
The next day Riley passed away.
“31 years old … 31 years of brotherhood,” Ranger wrote. “31 years of the most bubbly personality that could always make you laugh. 31 years of just being an all around awesome guy.”
Friends and loved ones alike shared messages of shock and condolences on social media. His mother, Diana, thanked everyone for their support.
https://www.facebook.com/diana.rumrill.7/posts/10216874555880701
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2507714746147479&id=100007269345708
https://www.facebook.com/joe.pollak.35/posts/10101043304002993
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2931756236884168&set=a.484074601652356&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/christie.rumrill/posts/10220199785132189
Beyond proud of my Aunt and Uncle for spreading awareness for COVID-19 that killed their 31 y/o son. Stay home. Wash your hands. This is the reality. https://t.co/GTFU6bVq68
— Caroline Alderson (@CaroAlderson1) March 31, 2020
According to the Globe, his family will hold a virtual memorial for Riley, given the pandemic restrictions on gatherings.
“Nobody can see each other,” Robert told the Globe. “The only thing I want to do is hug my dad, because he’s crushed. My father lost his kid. Imagine if you lost a [family member], and they said, ‘Oh, by the way, you have to wait 90 days to grieve…’”
Riley’s parents told CBS Boston they want people to take the following message away from their family’s loss: stay home. Their 31-year-old son didn’t know how he picked up COVID-19, and his death shows the virus doesn’t discriminate, they told the station.
“This thing is a silent killer,” Riley’s father, Robert, said. “You don’t know if you’ve got it or not. You better stay home. It’s not worth the gallon of milk or the loaf of bread. Just stay home.”
