BUSHWICK — Dennis "Big Dee" Sanchez seemed to know everyone in the neighborhood.
Sanchez, 39, who was shot and killed on Monday evening on Park Street near Beaver Street, spent much of his life hanging out in the area, where his grandmother lived until she died about two months ago, his friends said.
As an adult, he was always bringing people together on Park Street and nearby Ellery Street — throwing barbecues and block parties and hanging out with neighbors, they said.
It wasn't unusual for him to show up with a box of Newport cigarettes, two six packs of Corona and a bottle of Hennessy to share with anybody who asked, friends said.
By Wednesday, several posters, balloons, bottles of Hennessey and more than 100 candles had been left at a makeshift memorial on Park Street where Sanchez had been shot in the eye as he walked down the street Monday around 6:30 p.m.
Though he had moved further south to Vanderveer Street, Sanchez still had a presence on the blocks where he grew up, locals said.
More than 100 people passed by the memorial on Tuesday to mourn his death with prayers and songs, said Evlyn Morales, 59, who lives next door to where Sanchez was shot and knew him since he was a baby.
"They're feeling it," she said Wednesday, fighting tears. "He was a very giving person. Full hearted. He's not going to be easy to forget."
Sanchez had four children, including a daughter who turns 2 on Thursday, Morales said. He will be buried at Cypress Hills Cemetery.
The "soft-spoken" and "humble" man was beloved for his generosity, his friends said.
One 43-year-old neighbor, who would only give his name as Charlie, said Sanchez sent him care packages with cigarettes, underwear and other necessities when he was incarcerated.
Charlie was surprised at the act of generosity, considering the two of them didn't know each other very well before he went to jail.
"He was a great guy with a big heart," he said. "He helped everybody."
The dedicated father threw surprise parties and brought out the grill every time the weather warmed up to fire up steaks, hot dogs and hamburgers for adults and children, friends said.
He would frequently go over to Morales' home and offer to cook and bake, Morales said.
And when somebody outside a store asked him for change, he'd offer to go inside and buy them what they wanted, friends and neighbors said.
"It's not going to be the same without him," said Sunny Reyes, 59, who knew Sanchez since he was a kid. "[The community] is taking it hard. He knew a lot of people."
Police are still investigating Sanchez's death, which happened after an altercation between two people arguing over women. Officials believe they are close to an arrest.
Locals said they think Sanchez — who was a "chill" person — was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
He didn't get into arguments with people, they said. The graduate of Eastern District High School simply loved spending time with his friends and family, they said.
"He was a beautiful, healthy man," Morales said. "He was loved by a lot of people."
