Help Maria's family pay medical bills

After an arduous, seven month battle with Stage 4 Gallbladder cancer, our dear friend and Matriarch of the NYC alternative nightlife scene, Maria Narciso, passed away on Saturday, May 13th, just mere hours before Mother's Day. In addition to being a nightlife promoter, and a seasoned traveler and concert -goer, Maria was a mother, both literally to Martin and Cathy, and figuratively to any friend who needed that extra bit of love.

Ask almost anyone who knew Maria, and they will tell you all about the kindness she extended to everyone she met. Promoting her friends' small businesses, sending cards and care packages on special occasions (or just for everyday stuff,) running errands and bringing food and medicine to her friends when they were sick (even with COVID,) and covering cab rides for club patrons to ensure they got home safely. She even fundraised for employees of the Pyramid Club when the pandemic shut it down. Ask anyone who knew her and they have a story (or several) to tell about Maria going out of her way to show her appreciation for them. She loved to give, she loved to appreciate and foster gratitude. She loved to celebrate everyone in her life. Her absence in the lives of her children, her friends and loving family, club-goers, lovers of 80's music, and her beloved husband, Quirino Perez, is deeply felt.

While she was sick, Quirino became her primary caretaker. This meant giving up several club nights and gigs to focus on her. Now, in the wake of her death, he and her loved ones are still dealing with the medical bills that accrued during her long battle with cancer; chemotherapy, immunotherapy, blood transfusions, long hospital stays and more. Please join us in helping her Quirino and the rest of Maria's loving family find relief from these extensive costs. This fundraising campaign will help with remaining medication and insurance costs, lingering hospital bills, and after death expenses, among other things.

(photo by Stacie Joy)

Please consider helping us out. Every little bit goes a long way. We will soon Celebrate Maria's life with a party (she didn't want a funeral,) but we must make sure that her family doesn't drown under the costs of cancer. We will post updates here on where and when you can join us for the celebration. Any donors to this campaign receive an automatic invite, however, all are welcome and you will have a chance to donate at the event as well. Let's try to give Maria and her family some of the kindness and gratitude that she extended to us.