NEW: West Palm man killed in lightning strike was selfless, generous, family says
The 39-year-old West Palm Beach man killed by a lightning strike on Tuesday left behind a wife, two small children and a legacy of selflessness and generosity.
Antonio Miranda was the kind of guy who would “do anything for anybody,” said his brother-in-law, Carlos Herrero.
“He was selfless. He was such a good guy,” Herrero said. “Anytime you needed anything, he would be there in two seconds. He was always looking to help.”
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Besides helping others, Herrero said, Miranda was a loving father to his sons Antonio and Ricky, ages 4 and 2, and husband to his wife, Jenny, who teaches at Citrus Cove Elementary in Boynton Beach.
“Tony did everything for his family,” he said. “He took great care of his boys, and you could see how much he loved Jenny. They really were an incredible family.”
Miranda was killed while working with his father doing pest control in a wooded area near 22nd Avenue North and Pierce Drive in Lake Worth. Both men were electrocuted after three bolts of lightning struck a tree near where they were working.
The 71-year-old Enrique Miranda survived the strike. Antonio was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Herrero said Antonio and his father worked together nearly every day.
“This has hit his dad just as hard as it has hit Jenny,” he said.
The hardest part, Herrero said, is the suddenness of Miranda’s passing.
“We were all just completely unprepared for something like this,” he said. “Tony left for work one day and then he was gone. It’s completely unfair.”
For Herrero, whose wife is Jenny Miranda’s sister, the next step is to help the family as much as possible while they deal with the grief of their dad and husband passing.
One way he has done that is by starting a GoFundMe campaign, and the response to the fundraiser is proof of Miranda's impact on the people around him, Herrero said.
On Thursday, the campaign was only 22 hours old and had already raised more than $35,000 toward its goal of $60,000.
“I’m blown away by how quickly we’ve been able to raise this money for Jenny and the kids,” Herrero said. “As much as Tony helped others, it’s a good feeling to see it all come back.”
