R.I.P

Courtesy of family

Isaac Amanios immigrated from Eritrea to California in 2000 to escape violence and repression in his home country, his brother said.

“Nowhere is safe,” Abraham Amanios said, standing in front of his brother’s home in Fontana. “It makes you think that wherever I go in public… there is the chance of being threatened or attacked.”

Nephew Zeke Gebrekidane heard the news of Isaac Amanios’ death late Thursday and drove through the night from Tuscon to be with family in Fontana, he said.

“I was beyond shocked,” Gebrekidane said. “It’s a very sad scenario. Whether it’s Paris, whether it’s Colorado, whether it’s San Bernardino, when does it end?”

Amanios was a family man who tutored his three children with their school work. All are currently in college, Gebrekidane said.

“He was looking forward to his kids graduating from college,” he said. “He came here so his kids could have a better life. It’s not just his family affected, but the entire community is affected by this tragedy.”

Isaac Amanios’ wife, Hiwet, works as registered nurse at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. He is survived by his wife, sons, Bruk and Joseph and daughter, Milka.

On Twitter, Nat Berhe, safety for the New York Giants, said Amanios was his cousin and “a great human being.”

“Just got word that one of my cousins was among the 14 killed yesterday, I’m so sick right now,” Berhe said in one Twitter post. Berhe was born in Fontana and played football at Colton High School.

“The true terror is that this keeps happening. I still can’t believe it. Take a moment to think of the families hurting right now,” Berhe also tweeted. Read more »