Diva de Loyaza

Diva de Loyaza was riding her bike at Western Ave. on May 31st when she was struck by a driver of a minivan who did not yield to her when taking a right turn. She was kept on life suppor t for a week after.

"In our minds, she was a heroine," said her brother, Hugh de Loayza. "She passed away peacefully and with dignity."

Her kidneys were donated to save two other lives.

Diva was a vibrant fashion designer; in the past year she had opened up four of her Some Girls boutiques in central New York. She also founded the House of Bimbo clothing line.

"I look at Diva's life, and it was a work of art," said Winifred de Loayza, 69. "She was an enormous risk taker."

The family has set up a fund in Diva's name with the New York Bicycling Coalition, which has launched a Share the Road program to be taught in driver education classes.

Recently it was proposed at a meeting of the Albany Bicycling Coalition that Diva's ghost bike be removed so as not to upset the driver who killed her.

The driver who did not take one second to look for Diva when making her turn still takes the same route to work and passes Diva's ghost bike everyday.