Queens minister Anthony Blake collapsed on his brother Dana “Shazam” Blake’s open casket as the funeral for the East Village bouncer was about to get under way yesterday.
Sobbing and screaming, “I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it,” Anthony was carried out of the Humble Way Church of God in Christ in South Ozone Park – his words and emotion setting the tone for the tearful farewell that followed for his younger brother, who was stabbed to death enforcing the city’s new smoking ban.
With 20 of Dana Blake’s bouncer buddies lining the walls of the small red brick church, the 6-foot-5 “gentle giant” was remembered more for his enormous heart than for his size by people from all the worlds he touched.
Among those packing the church were relatives, friends old and new, neighbors, youngsters who played on the Jamaica football team he coached, and media execs who bought his freelance graphics.
“He brightened a dark night like it was day,” said a bouncer known as Saint Ives. “I’ll never forget him.”
Life-long friend Al Randolph recalled giving Blake his “Shazam” nickname in the early ’90s when he started wearing a gold earring that made him look like a genie.
Bishop Kenneth Moales, pastor of her Bridgeport, Conn. church, urged mourners to pressure the city to make sure those responsible for Blake’s death are prosecuted.
“He didn’t have an accident. He didn’t commit suicide. He was murdered. We have to make sure justice is served,” said Moales.
The mourners were also asked to urge the city to name the new smoking law in Blake’s memory.
“We want the law named after him – he died trying to abide by it,” said Carolyn Younger.