Death Of Man Known For Giving Out Free Water In Riverview Mourned

RIVERVIEW, FL — The busy corner of Bloomingdale Avenue and Providence Road in Riverview is without one of its longtime fixtures after the death of Cory Cobb, the man often seen in median of the intersection handing out free bottles of water to anyone passing by who needed a drink.

Cobb died of a cardiac arrest a week ago, Bay News 9 reported. His presence at Bloomingdale and Providence is now marked with a memorial in his memory, according to the news station.

“He was a great guy,” Larry Maticioni told the news station while passing the memorial this week. “We’re sorry for the community.”

At Bloomingdale and Providence in Riverview, Cobb made everyone smile.

“Just driving by and seeing the good deed, it makes you smile,” Telson O. told Bay News 9.

Riverview resident Nathan Chiarelli told the station in a 2020 feature story that Cobb tossed him a drink when he was coming up to the intersection and waving hello.

“It was just the greatest time,” Chiarelli said. “He made my day.”

Cobb performed acts of kindness in memory of a number of his family members, including his mother, who died before him, the Bay News 9 report states.

He told the news outlet it was his “mom and dad in heaven” who inspired his kindness.

“They raised me right,” he said.

Last year, a group called “Cory’s Angels” formed to help the beloved good Samaritan financially.

A GoFundMe effort that raised more than $1,000 for him said Cobb “shines a light that will change your entire day. His positive attitude is contagious.”