BUFFALO, N.Y. — Days after the passing of Charles Incorvaia, better known as Bubble Man, a few locals picked up where the Allentown hero left off by bringing the iridescent spheres back to the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Allen Street. The tribute was anything but somber, as music, dancing, and, of course, bubbles filled the atmosphere. It was a turnout that spoke to a legacy left behind.

“We are very touched by the fact that—how many people he’s touched that we were unaware of, how many people have said that when they’ve taken their children to the hospital, this is their next stop to celebrate something, going to Roswell, just the people of the community and people that are down are telling us they would step here just to have bubbles float over them,” said Charles' sister Rose Ann Incorvaia-Ross. “We just are overwhelmed.”

What You Need To Know

  • Charles "Chuck" Incorvaia, better known as Allentown's "Bubble Man," died Jan. 18 after battling an illness

  • Members of Incorvaia's family gathered with friends and fans Saturday to celebrate at the corner of Allen Street and Elmwood Avenue

  • Incorvaia's neighbor, as well as his brother James, plan to keep the bubbles going from the third story apartment window

  • Incorvaia's family will hold a memorial in May and are encouraging supporters to donate to the Buffalo VA Medical Center in the Navy veteran's memory

She also said that Chuck's neighbor from across the hall, Steve Fried, as well Chuck's brother and Jim's Steakout owner James Incorvaia, plan to keep the bubbles coming from the third-story apartment window that Bubble Man made famous.

A Navy veteran with a kind soul, Chuck was a private man, but even those who never met him have their own stories about how Bubble Man brought joy to their lives.

“I was parked right there and I don’t believe it; I see bubbles flying all around here. I didn’t even know this area and I’m like, where are all these bubbles coming from? Look up there and its bubbles coming from the guy upstairs, and I loved it. It looked so nice,” said Calvin Wallace, who has lived in Buffalo for over 40 years and first saw Bubble Man at around age 15. 

“We had a bubble fest kind of love,” said Linda Abrams, a member of flash-mob style group The Buffalo Joy Walkers. “We would get to this corner on our Allentown Joy Walk and he would rain bubbles and magic on us every time. It was just amazing.”

“I was driving here and I saw the bubbles, and I had seen them before, but this time the song happened and I go, I’m going to write this song for this guy because he’s a Buffalo treasure, you know? One of the great treasures of the city,” said Dave Goddard, a musician who penned a tribute to Bubble Man over five years ago, which he performed at the tribute.

The Incorvaia family will hold a memorial for Chuck in May 2022 and are asking supporters to make donations to the Buffalo VA Medical center in honor of his service in the United States Navy.