Carlos Laboy loved the theater. He also loved teaching everything about the theater – from acting to stage production – to the youth of the northwest Bronx where he founded the StageKids program that is run out of Mosholu Montefiore Community Center. It was his great passion in life.

Laboy (pictured, center) passed away yesterday at the age of 59 after a months-long battle with an aggressive form of cancer.

“Carlos will be greatly missed and will live on in our hearts,” his family wrote in a statement announcing his death.

On Wednesday afternoon, from 3 to 9 p.m., there will be a wake for Laboy at Ortiz Funeral Home, 2580 Grand Concourse (just north of Fordham Road).

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking people to donate to the Teen Program at Mosholu Montefiore Community Center. Contributions can be sent to MMCC at 3450 DeKalb Ave., Bronx, NY, 10467. Just write: “Re: MMCC Teen Program.”

Fore more on Laboy’s work in the community, click here, here and here. Here’s the StageKids website.

(Photo by Adi Talwar)