In 1993, a young man named Victor L. Figueroa walked into Liberty Science Center with his dad and asked for a job with the fish tanks.

He got the job. But what he didn’t realize at the time was that he was also gaining a second family.

Last week, the LSC community paid tribute to one of the institute’s most cherished employees. Victor, who had been with LSC since it first opened, passed away earlier this month after a courageous battle with cancer.

On Wednesday, July 13, past and current co-workers joined Victor’s family, including his wife Victoria and 14-year-old son Christian, in the Joseph D. Williams 3D Science Theater for a tribute to a man who loved his work, but more importantly, the people he worked there with.

“He considered LSC like his second home,” said Director of Technology Group Max Florez.

Throughout his 23-year career, Victor worked on a number of different teams within LSC, including Community Programs, Exhibit Floor Programs, Events and Animal Husbandry. Most recently, Victor was working as a technology specialist on the IT / AV team. Although Victor and his wife went to the same high school, they met again and started dating while both working at LSC.

He was also a captain of the LSC Softball Team – a role he took incredibly seriously, sometimes scolding players for their weak home runs (which, coming from Victor, was always in good humor).

Victor loved sports, and adored the NY Yankees and NY Giants more than anyone who had ever stepped foot in the building. He also loved gadgets and marine biology (which is what landed him the job in the first place) and was obsessed with the food at Blimpie Base in Bayonne.

He had an unforgettable smile, and treated people like he was their own brother. His presence always put people at-ease – particularly when he came to their rescue during an IT crisis.

The question of leaving LSC never crossed Victor’s mind. He loved the people too much.

“You were all a family and he would not leave you,” his wife Victoria told the attendees. “So he’s with you no matter what. Keep doing the things that he did. Remember his smile. Share that smile. Don’t stop that smile.”