Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today introduced legislation to rename the post office in Arlington on George Mason Drive (currently designated “Arlington Post Office”) after local letter carrier Jesus Collazos. Collazos immigrated to Northern Virginia from Colombia in 1978 and worked for 25 years as a USPS postal carrier in Arlington. He died of COVID-19 early in the pandemic
“Jesus Collazos was a beloved figure who personified the American dream and gave back to the Arlington community he loved,” said Rep. Beyer. “It is extremely fitting that we would rename a postal facility in Arlington after this person who delivered mail there for 25 years until his retirement. His untimely death was a great loss to the region, but I hope this commemoration will bring a measure of solace to his family.”
During his tenure as a postal carrier, Jesus left a positive impact on his community, his colleagues, and most importantly, his family. While working one of his first postal routes, he fell in love with the neighborhood and eventually bought a home there. He was passionate about ensuring his children received an education and helped put his children through school. Both ultimately received their master’s degrees. Motivated by a desire to spend more time with his grandchildren, Jesus retired in February 2019.
In early 2020 he was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma, an aggressive cancer. While being treated, he tested positive for COVID-19 and was intubated a week later, then suffered a stroke which put him in a coma. Jesus passed away on June 6, 2020, at the age of 67. The Collazos family immediately began to receive an outpouring of love via messages, calls, cards, and meals from countless family members and friends. An outdoor memorial service for Jesus was held June 26, 2020, which saw many community members, family, and friends came together to honor his memory. His USPS coworkers opened the ceremony with a mail truck parade – all of this as a testament to Jesus’ impact on his community.