Drena De Niro is honoring her late son Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez on what would have been his twenty first birthday.
On Sunday, Aug. 11, Drena, the daughter of actor Robert De Niro, shared a put up on social media in celebration of Leandro’s birthday, simply over a yr after his demise at age 19.
“Comfortable twenty first Birthday up within the heavens cosmos my little angel,” Drena, 56, wrote on her Instagram Tales alongside a child image of Leandro, his identify and his birthday: Aug. 11, 2003. “I by no means cease pondering of you.”
Drena De Niro/Instagram
Leandro’s father, Carlos “Mare” Rodriguez, additionally shared a post on Instagram on his son’s birthday to mark the event. Sharing a photograph of himself and Leandro sitting on the ground and posing for a photograph collectively, he wrote within the caption: “Comfortable Birthday my stunning boy.”
“Might your soul be resting in peace as it’s in me. Thanks to your gentle, laughter, Love and classes,” he completed the caption, including the hashtag: “#youcantspelllovewithoutleo 💔.”
Robert, 80, first shared the information about Leandro’s demise on July 2, 2023, writing on Instagram partly, “Relaxation in Peace and Everlasting Paradise my darling boy.”
A spokesperson for the NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner of Public Data advised PEOPLE on the time {that a} “male was discovered unconscious, unresponsive and was pronounced deceased by EMS on scene” on July 2, 2023.
Robert additionally shared his grief following his grandson’s demise, writing in a assertion to PEOPLE, “I am deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo. We’re drastically appreciative of the condolences from everybody. We ask that we please be given privateness to grieve our lack of Leo.”
In August final yr, the New York Metropolis chief health worker’s workplace confirmed to PEOPLE that Leandro died of an unintended drug overdose, and attributed the overdose to the “poisonous results of fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine and cocaine.”
Drena De Niro/ Instagram
Simply final month, on July 2 — one yr to the date of his demise — Drena celebrated her son’s life by sharing tons of images of him all through his childhood. In her Instagram put up, she included a photograph of her son posing in a leather-based jacket and leather-based pants, along with his arms open broad. Within the subsequent image, Leandro once more wore a leather-based jacket and white shirt whereas he turned his head to the aspect, along with his hair overlaying his face.
Drena additionally shared more recent photos, together with a photograph of her visiting her son’s grave, which was adorned with vases stuffed with flowers. She concluded the Instagram put up with a snapshot of Leandro smiling.
“I KNEW this child was jacking my garments behind my again !!!” Drena jokingly started her caption.
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“Immediately we celebrated candy wild boy Leo 🖤,” she continued partly. “In your quick time right here you made the world a brighter place. You might be deeply cherished just like the solar loves the moon and the moon loves the ocean.”
On his Instagram Tales that very same day, Leandro’s father shared that he had made a cake in tribute to his late son, which had the phrase “You’ll be able to’t spell love with out Leo” written on it. He additionally shared some childhood videos of Leandro dancing on the street.
“Yr One. Relaxation in Peace Relaxation in Me Leo,” he wrote in a separate put up final month. “#youcantspelllovewithoutleo 🙏🕊️❤️💔.”
