Woman dies after being pushed into a BART train in San Francisco – remembered for ‘kind and generous’

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — We learn new details about the woman who died when she was pushed into an oncoming BART train at Powell Station.

ABC7 News reporter Luz Pena spoke with the victim’s family about the legacy she leaves behind.

At home, Corazon Dandan’s family told her a lot about the woman who was loved by many.

“She is definitely beautiful. Sweet, kind, loving, caring,” said Rene Dandan, Corazon’s brother.

VIDEO: Woman dies when pushed into oncoming BART train at Powell Station, suspect arrested

Corazon was one of eight siblings from the Philippines. Her name means heart – her heart that touched many. Her older brother showed us photos of his little sister just two weeks before she was killed.

“This is Cora. ​​This is the last party we had in Redwood City,” said Rene Dandan.

Surrounded by her family, Corazon enjoyed her life the most. She had saved for years for a lifelong dream that she will now never be able to realize.

“She has worked hard. She had two double jobs for maybe 25 years. I realize that she is saving all her money just to fulfill her dream of building a house in the Philippines,” said Rene Dandan.

RELATED: Man charged with murder in shoving 74-year-old Daly City woman into oncoming BART train

On the night of her murder, Corazon had just finished her 11 p.m. shift as a telephone operator at the Hilton Parc 55 in downtown San Francisco.

She was waiting for the same BART train she had taken home every night for over 30 years. Her nephew, Alvin Dandan, got the call from the hospital.

“It was a terrible call,” said Alvin Dandan, adding, “He said, ‘Is that you, Alvin?’ And I held the phone up to my face and it was Aunt Cora’s phone calling me. My heart sank and I said, ‘What’s going on and who are you and where is my aunt?'”

Alvin was in shock. His first call was to his uncle in the Bay Area.

“He’s already crying. He told me that Cora died. Someone pushed her on the train,” said Rene Dandan.

Eight minutes after the incident, Bart police arrested a 49-year-old homeless man. The next day, the San Francisco District Attorney charged him with murder.

“It doesn’t really make a difference to us. It’s not going to bring them back. Are we angry? There’s no point. I saw the person,” said Alvin Dandan, adding: “It’s a mentally ill person. It wasn’t racially motivated. I don’t think so.”

Alvin doesn’t want to remember his aunt because she died, but because she lived. Corazon never had children, so Alvin and his cousins ​​​​were like children to her.

“She would go home and borrow me, take me to the mall and stuff like that, and then take me back to my parents so they could go home,” Alvin Dandan said.

Corazon helped Alvin complete his medical degree and today he works as an intensive care physician in St. Louis. Her generosity and love have forever impacted him.

“She raised me,” said Alvin Dandan.

Alvin said he will miss his aunt’s energy, leadership and spirit.

“When we travel, Aunt Cora can probably run faster than half the people,” said Alvin Dandan. “She wants to be remembered as a very beautiful, independent, hard-working American. An immigrant, if you will – who is basically the life of the party and very kind and generous.”

As this family remembers their cheerful 74-year-old aunt and sister, the altar she built in their home for prayer brings them peace and the knowledge that she is now with God.

“She led a truly Christian life. She lived her faith by loving, caring and helping other people. Very generous. I think an example of a good Christian,” said Rene Dandan.