On August 29, 2021, the world mysteriously lost a kind and caring soul by the name of Najib “Travis” Hood. Hood was a hard working man with two jobs, a loving family, a list of hobbies, and a full life yet to be lived. He died three days before his 30th birthday.
Hood was born in Kampala, Uganda. Following his upbringing overseas, Hood immigrated to the U.S in 2009 for a chance at a better education. Eventually, he and his family relocated to Pelham, New York, where they created a brand new life together.
Sandra Hood, Travis’s mother, recalled her son as a smart, ambitious, and determinally driven individual. “He was happy all the time,” his mother shared. “He was always smiling, and everyone loved that about him.” Hood lived in the house with his mother and the rest of his family.
Hood was the second oldest of four, and he held a very close relationship with both his mother and his siblings. Mrs. Hood tells us it wasn’t uncommon for Travis to go out of his way to put a smile on his brother and sister’s faces. He often even helped his younger siblings with finances while they attended college. “He is very dearly missed,” Mrs. Hood said. “His younger sister, Nafisa, was really looking forward to him being an uncle to her future children. And now he’ll never get that chance.”
Prior to his death, when Travis wasn’t looking after his family or working a shift at either of his jobs in White Plains, he was reading, kickboxing, skating, or drawing art. He stayed active by going for a jog every morning before heading to work. He also practiced Buddhism and found it important to stay in tune with his inner spirit.
Things had been going well in Travis’s life prior to his passing. He was in a committed relationship, his work peers adored him, and his family loved spending time with him. In fact, just a couple of weeks prior, Travis had bought himself one of his dream cars.
But on the 29th of August, Hood was found dead by the NYPD in a Manhattan hotel room. Travis’s mother was notified shortly after they found his body. Although police have not finished their investigation, the reason behind Travis’s death still remains unclear. His personal belongings are yet to be found, and his mother is yet to be given answers upon her son’s death.
Travis will always be remembered as the kind spirit and gentle soul with the contagious smile. “We will forever miss him,” his mother said. “And he’ll live forever in our hearts.”
