Santiago “was a fierce advocate. She was as wholesale feather hair extensions brilliant as she was beautiful. She was the greatest advocate for equal health care for all. That love doesn't die, it lives on,” Edwards said.
“She has been a leading and driving force in the expansion of our women's health services division and a powerful advocate for all LGBT women,” he added. “She's such a hard worker. She normally would be working this weekend, but this happened to be the time that they chose to enjoy together and hear the country music that she loved.”
Santiago was also a programming chair for Amigas Latinas, a gay and lesbian advocacy group for Latinas in the Chicago area, Hernandez said. She regularly coordinated fundraisers for the organization.
“She was a Nuyorican, who showed an amazing amount of pride,” said Hernandez, referring to Santiago's Puerto Rican and New York heritage. “As young feathers in hair extensions as she was, she was very committed to the city of Chicago and to women. She was really good at organizing and planning with a purpose.”
Brennon and Santiago had been among the first people to obtain a civil union in Cook County, she added.
Friends said Sunday that Santiago and Brennon had been planning to take some time off work to travel together. Santiago had checked in on Facebook at the state fair.
“Christina was famous for checking in at every event she went,” said Hernandez, who regularly volunteered with the couple. “We made fun of her because she was the only person who checked into work every morning. It was not cheap feather hair extensions surprising to see her checking in last night at the concert.”
Bruce Edwards, 46, who lives in the same building as the couple on the 5900 block of North Paulina Street, said he learned of the fatal accident late Saturday night.
Edwards, who runs a small handyman business, said that the couple had asked for his help last week to sand and repaint an old bicycle, but that Brennon had texted him later and told him they would be out of town.
“(Alisha) didn't mention where they were going. Now I know where they were going unfortunately,” Edwards said.
Edwards had met Santiago and Brennon about a year and a half ago when he showed them their new apartment. Edwards had previously lived in that unit until he moved into another one in the same building.
“She was a sweet, a nice girl, full of life, just easy to get along with,” Edwards said. “I like the way that they took the old apartment that I lived in and fixed it up. It looked a whole lot better than when I lived in there.”
The couple regularly invited Edwards to parties at their home. They planted herbs, vegetables and flowers on their private porch. Sometimes, they called on Edwards for help with do-it-yourself projects.
Hernandez was among dozens of friends who grappled with the sudden death of Santiago. By Sunday afternoon, supporters were already planning to drive to the hospital to which Brennon was taken. They want to help her feather extensions for hair recover.
Brennon, who according to Hernandez has family living in Iowa, will likely need all the support she can get in the coming weeks.
