Senior community raises funds for partner of man pushed off bus

A downtown senior living community has created a GoFundMe campaign in support of a fellow resident whose longtime partner died last month after he was shoved off a bus just a block away from their home.

Over the years, 74-year-old Serge Fournier had become something of a staple at the Desert Plaza Senior Apartments at Maryland Parkway and Carson Avenue. He had been living there with his partner, identified only as Esther, since at least 2004.

“It’s a huge loss to our family,” property manager Melody Shay told the Las Vegas Review-Journal on the lawn of the complex, where the community had held a yard sale Friday.

Similar to Friday’s sale, all GoFundMe proceeds will go toward Fournier’s funeral services and to Esther’s $550 monthly rent at Desert Plaza.

Within three hours of the campaign’s creation, a woman donated $600.

“That could have been my father,” Melanie Jordan wrote in her donation note.

Shay confirmed Saturday morning that this was the official fundraising account for Fournier and his partner.

According to the GoFundMe, Fournier “cherished” Esther, whom he supported financially with his Social Security.

As of Saturday, her rent was paid through at least June, Shay said, but she and the Desert Plaza family hope Esther will be able to stay in her apartment.

Evel Pie, the downtown Las Vegas pizza restaurant, posted Saturday on Facebook that the restaurant will be donating all the money made Sunday between 11 a.m. and noon to Esther.

“So come have a slice, beer or a dozen pizzas,” the restaurant said. “It will all go to Miss Esther who will also be on hand.”

The restaurant, 508 Fremont St., will also be collecting cat supplies, bottled water, non perishable food, medicine, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, and “things to lift her spirits,” as well as prepaid gift cards and gift cards for stores, ride-share apps, and food delivery services. The items will go to Esther and other “senior citizens in her community.”

It has been a little more than three weeks since he died of complications from the torso injuries he suffered when he was pushed off a bus March 21 after telling an irate woman “to be nicer to the passengers,” police have said.

He was returning home from grocery shopping, inching his way with his walker toward the bus door, when he encountered Cadesha Bishop, 25.

Fournier landed about 8 feet from the bus but declined medical attention at the time, although he arrived at University Medical Center later that night for treatment, police have said.

Meanwhile, police said, Bishop walked away without offering help. She was with her young son at the time.

Bishop was arrested May 6 on a murder charge but was free on bail after posting bond last week, records show.

Contact Rio Lacanlale at rlacanlale@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Follow @riolacanlale on Twitter. Review-Journal staff writer Katelyn Newberg contributed to this report.