Community shares condolences after two Allentown artists found dead in home

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The community shared an outpouring of condolences on Wednesday after prominent Allentown artists Michael “Mickey” Harmon, 40, and Jordan Celotto, 37, were found dead in their residence Tuesday afternoon.

Those that knew the couple best said nothing can compare to their commitment to making Allentown and Buffalo a brighter place where all are welcome.

“I refuse to allow Mickey and Jordan’s memory to be attached to these heinous crimes,” said Buffalo Common Council Member Mitch Nowakowski. “I want everybody to know that these people were artists, people of the Allentown community, who made it better.”

The tangible evidence of how Harmon and Celotto impacted the Allentown community is everywhere. When taking a walk through the town, residents can see Harmon’s “Stonewall Nation Mural” and “Charity,” a piece made for Friends of the Night People, among others.

However, speaking to those who knew the pair best, it’s what they provided away from the canvas they’ll remember the most.

“Within the LGBTQ community locally, I don’t think there’s a single organization that I know of that hasn’t personally benefited from the blood, sweat and mentorship of Mickey Harmon over the past few years,” said Jack Kavanaugh, the executive director of Growing LGBTQ+ Youth Support (GLYS) Western New York.

“Mickey had boundless energy. I don’t think he ever sat down, ever,” said Jonathan White, the Allentown Association’s communications director. “Jordan was quiet. He was more thoughtful, he was more balanced, and together, they made things happen.”

“There’s nothing in Allentown and there’s nothing in downtown Buffalo that you can go to that one of them hasn’t touched,” said Michael Moch, co-owner of the 26 bar in Allentown.

Since 2017, Harmon has been a member of the Allentown Association. White said the couple had a hand in everything.

“Everyone says a fierce champion and I think that is a good description of it, as was Jordan of the LGBTQ community,” White said. “He brought the Intersect event into Allentown every year. He worked with the Pride Center on doing a pride event that was sponsored by the association, but Mickey did all the work.”

Kavanaugh said the duo would also be around the community helping with various fundraising events.

“It’s a really small community, so all of us have multiple relationships with everyone and I think sometimes that can be hard to navigate,” Kavanaugh said. “He was always just just willing to show up and provide that level of support and mentorship that sometimes can be hard to find for younger members of the community.”

Besides art, Celotto also worked as a bartender at Remedy House. The cafe said in a post that they were better for knowing Jordan and thanked him for everything.

Harmon and Celotto also helped host events and DJ at the bar, 26, in Allentown. Moch said the bar wouldn’t be there without them.

“When we first opened this place, Mickey was one of the first people that came to us,” Moch said. “Kind of helped us find our place and what our role is in the LGBTQ community in Buffalo. It went beyond just this community. They were for a better Buffalo.”

Harmon was scheduled to appear on News 4’s Daytime Buffalo Wednesday to promote Queertopia, an event at Nietzsche’s this weekend. Organizers said the show will go on as planned, using it as a platform to bring together neighbors to remember and celebrate the pair.

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Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

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