The Buffalo Bills and their fans are remembering one of their biggest supporters.
The community honored the memory of Ezra “Pancho Billa” Castro Saturday, months after the Bills super fan died from cancer.
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“Every morning when I wake up, I say hi to a few people up in heaven: my mom, my dad, and Pancho,” said Joanie DeKoker, who considered Castro her adopted son.
“He had that special quality that everybody loved and he loved everyone,” she said.
The Bills mafia came together Saturday afternoon on Hammer’s Lot across the street from New Era Field for the memorial.
“He just wanted everyone to come together and love each other and he brought so many people together,” said Roselyn Kasmire, the author of “Pancho Power.”
Kasmire said Castro reached out to her last year to see if she could cement his legacy by writing a book in his honor. The children’s book is about Ezra and his spirit.
For fans, Castro is gone but not forgotten.
“The love for Pancho, it’s deep, it’s deep,” said Sandy Chester, a Kenmore resident.
Castro’s family attended the memorial and was touched by the outpouring of love and support.
“I know he won’t be forgotten within this city, within this organization because he loved this city, he loved this organization, he loved everything Buffalo, anything red, white and blue, it was his life,” said Veronica Borjon, Castro’s longtime partner.
The Bills plan to honor Castro before their home opener Sunday, another way to show his family they’ve got their back.
“Thank you and I love you all with all my heart for accepting me, for accepting our children, making this our other home, I thank you all,” Borjon added.