Lynbrook teen, 18, killed in car accident

[Stephanie]

To chuckys parents and family,
I just wanted to let you know how much chucky meant to me. There is not one day that goes by in which i do not think about him. He's truly embedded in my mind forever. I only knew him for a year but he really made such a huge impact on me. We related on so many levels...i found him extremly interesting, his thoughts on life and his down to earth personality facinated me. It's hard to find people like chucky now-a-days. He truly enjoyed life, he enjoyed living. I wish his life was not cut short, it's just not right. I do hope the brown family and the other man involed will be held accountable for this terrible tragedy, being that they both were in the wrong. Their must be consequences for their idiotic actics that horrible night. I miss your son so much, their is so much i wish i could've told him and so much time i wish i could have spent with him. I really thought that chucky was going to be a friend I'd have for a lifetime. What can i say, he's special, one of a kind...

[Charlies Mom]

Stephanie,
Thank you for writing to us. We really appreciate it. You are so right, "Chucky" did love his life. His brother told us that on that very night, before dinner, they were working on a song and Charlie looked up from his keyboard and said "I love life!" He was just so happy. It breaks my heart over and over, each time I look into his eyes in his pictures I break down. It is a struggle everyday, we miss him so much it hurts.I just can't believe he is not with us.
You too must be special, it sounds like you had a real connection with "Chuck" and your friendship contributed to his happy life. Thank you, I too wish it could have been for a long, long lifetime.

Stephanie wrote:

To chuckys parents and family,
I just wanted to let you know how much chucky meant to me. There is not one day that goes by in which i do not think about him. He's truly embedded in my mind forever. I only knew him for a year but he really made such a huge impact on me. We related on so many levels...i found him extremly interesting, his thoughts on life and his down to earth personality facinated me. It's hard to find people like chucky now-a-days. He truly enjoyed life, he enjoyed living. I wish his life was not cut short, it's just not right. I do hope the brown family and the other man involed will be held accountable for this terrible tragedy, being that they both were in the wrong. Their must be consequences for their idiotic actics that horrible night. I miss your son so much, their is so much i wish i could've told him and so much time i wish i could have spent with him. I really thought that chucky was going to be a friend I'd have for a lifetime. What can i say, he's special, one of a kind...

[jml]

You are very missed-- :(

[Charlies Mom]

To my son Charlie,
Just 18
No longer a boy, not yet a man,
unspoiled by life’s hypocrisy.
You were just starting out on your life’s journey.
So happy, so free….to soon for a plan
Like a fledging perched with eyes wide open, you were eager and ready to explore,
all that awaited you beyond life’s open door
Just finished High School, your wings almost full grown
Looking forward to your future, starting to come into your own.
Such a beautiful face with a smile so illuminating,it was as bright as a flash, so captivating.
Just 18
With the wisdom of the ages, you innately knew
That forgiveness and compassion was the right thing to do.
Your kindness sometimes brought you undue pain but through your undying optimism you were able to sustain.
You did not judge, you did not blame.
You wore your heart on your sleeve, always willing to give,
Daring to care, it all on the line, you put yourself out there,
You so wanted to live.
Just 18
Denied your chance of one true love, a sweet young girl with the gentle heart of a dove.
The time was not right and I remember that night,
with tears in your eyes you both pledged to wait.
You kept your promise and stayed true to your word,
You wrote your love songs that will never be heard.
I know how you missed her, I would see you cry. It broke my heart but you understood why. Perhaps it could be at some later date.
Who could predict this cruel and unforgivable fate?
Just 18
Your spirit unbroken you remained true to yourself.
You kept your uniqueness in tact, no matter how tested,
you stayed on your own track.
With a car in the yard you chose not to drive you said “things go by too fast”
You wanted to walk, to make it all last.
You did not subscribe to the “Status Quo” and did not compromise what you believed to be so.
Forced to fight one day with your “friends” all around,
all alone you stood and held your own ground.
That was a lesson that helped make you strong.
You were forced to face what you knew all along.
Just 18
The music you loved was from a long time ago,
Donovan, Guthrie, artists most 18yr olds would not even know.
Their songs spoke of love and of peace, the things you believed
They reflected what you gave and what you hope to receive.
Were you an “old soul” who just passed through my life?
You stayed with me for such a short time,
I can’t help but wonder- Were you ever really mine?
Just 18
I look at your pictures everyday and I cry, they are just a moment of time in my minds eye.
I am frozen in this place, between what was and what will never be,
there is no future together to see.
It seems you were like a brilliant flash, you came and went much too fast.
I am left blinded by the grey spots of sorrow and pain.
The never ending longing to hold you again.
Just 18
You loved your life, you so appreciated the “gift”.
You sang and danced through each day with a heart so big and a smile so bright!
God, do you know what you did to us on that dark rainy night?
You took our future, you took our joy.
You left us to live without our precious boy.
You filled our days with pain and grief
Of such proportion there is no relief.
You took our hopes and our dreams, you lost our trust and belief.
You crushed our hearts and stripped us bare
of this gift of his life we cherished, nurtured and so wanted to share.
He was…. Just 18.
It is my struggle, it is my pain,
I know have no choice, I must remain.
There is one thing that I do hold true:
Everyday that passes brings me closer to you.
I will miss and cherish you all the days of my life,
All my love,
Mommy

[Charlies Mom]

Monday will be Charlie's 19th Birthday and it will be the second worst day of our lifes because of the selfish acts of two careless people. These were conscience, deliberate decisions that were made and this was avoidable. Simply obeying the rules and not taking chances on a rain soaked road would have saved my innocent son's life. Everyone walked away with their lives except my poor son who was WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK................... We have to live with their indiscretions for the rest of our lives.

[fed up]

I was not lucky enough to know your son, but I grew up and currently live in the same neighborhood. I truly feel for you and your family. Do you have a web page relating to him and his life or a picture? I read your posts from time to time and he sounds like he was a great person and very well liked. My prayers are with you, your son, and your family. Happy Birthday Charlie.

[Charlies Mom]

Thank you so much. It was so nice of you to write after all this time. I still come on now and then. It has quieted down over the months. It's not that he is forgotten by his friends. There are memorial pages on both Facebook and on MySpace. These pages were made by his friends and I think you have to be a member of each in order to view them. His MySpace page is full of pictures, music and beautiful slide shows made by the collaboration of many of his friends. That is where they post their comments and continue to keep his memory alive.
The administator of the page has to "allow" people to view it, that's the way MySpace works in order to protect the kids. I think it is the same with Facebook.
Charlie was a easy going, kind and very happy person. We miss him so much as you can well imagine. He really was a joy to have everyday in our lives.

fed up wrote:

I was not lucky enough to know your son, but I grew up and currently live in the same neighborhood. I truly feel for you and your family. Do you have a web page relating to him and his life or a picture? I read your posts from time to time and he sounds like he was a great person and very well liked. My prayers are with you, your son, and your family. Happy Birthday Charlie.

[I know better]

Play Ball wrote:

<quoted text>
I heard that the van was stolen and being chased by the cops.

No...But driver was high on Vicodin and drinking beer and doing bong hits

[I know better]

I was sat on Grand Jury, it took us less than 4 seconds to give a True Bill and Indict The Van driver for Manslaughter 2° and dui and dwi.. I feel for you, such a young boy, a real shame. i know it won't make you feel better seeing the driver go to jail, but it will make me feel better knowing he's not on the road when my family is driving around. God Bless you

[Charlies Mom]

Thank you and I would like to see this person off the road for your family and others also. But if this was true why was he not arrested at the scene? I am very confused. There weren't any charges filed to anyone that night.

I know better wrote:

I was sat on
Grand Jury, it took us less than 4 seconds to give a True Bill and Indict The Van driver for Manslaughter 2° and dui and dwi.. I feel for you, such a young boy, a real shame. i know it won't make you feel better seeing the driver go to jail, but it will make me feel better knowing he's not on the road when my family is driving around. God Bless you

[a mom]

Charlie's Mom, I will hold my children closer and tighter. I will cherish every moment, good and bad. I will look deeper into their eyes and embrace their smiles. I will kiss them more even if they push me away. I will appreciate the messes and mistakes they make. I will tell them how I feel more readily. I will count my blessings and pray for you. After having read your poem.

[Charlies Mom]

Although my heart is broken beyond repair I do take solice in that I know Charlie knew how loved he was/is. Believe me it means the world to me. I am glad that my poem touched you in such a way. We can never predict what life will bring and it is important to live in the moment and express our feelings to those we love.It is hard to live each day without my son, I am grateful that we had a loving realtionship while he was with me. These are the things that matter the most in the end. May you and your childern always take the time to show your love to each other. Enjoy and cherish those smiles, how I loved Charlie's smile!

a mom wrote:

Charlie's Mom, I will hold my children closer and tighter. I will cherish every moment, good and bad. I will look deeper into their eyes and embrace their smiles. I will kiss them more even if they push me away. I will appreciate the messes and mistakes they make. I will tell them how I feel more readily. I will count my blessings and pray for you. After having read your poem.

[Charlies Mom]

I would also like to thank you for your service and your part in seeking justice for Charlie. I am thankful for your wisdom and compassion. My life has been devastated and there can be no happy ending for us but maybe another innocent life can be saved through your efforts. I see this as a willful, delibrate disregard for life, be it his or anyone elses. When you choose to drive a vehicle impaired & recklessly, you are blatently telling society "I don't care about myself, you or your loved ones" plain and simple! We must continue to be intolerant and swift to justice in these cases because we do care. You showed that to be true.
Thank you again from all of us, family and friends of Charlie and also from my Charlie.

I know better wrote:

I was sat on Grand Jury, it took us less than 4 seconds to give a True Bill and Indict The Van driver for Manslaughter 2° and dui and dwi.. I feel for you, such a young boy, a real shame. i know it won't make you feel better seeing the driver go to jail, but it will make me feel better knowing he's not on the road when my family is driving around. God Bless you

[oj-al sharpton]

this scumbag got what he deserved

[concerned]

i am so upset of what happend to chuck. i am crying when i write this message. because of the fact my heart is so upset. at this point i feel so angery of what happend. i have no more words to say. i thought chuck was so handsome, and good looking and had so much potental. till this day when i sleep one eye wont close, because my soul is still so devastated. and when chucks birhday just passed i felt as the same feeling passed over me as when it first did when i heARD THAT HE had died on october 19th 2007.

[concerned]

let this buteyful day remind of us chuck because he was a beautiful person, and i will never forget chuck. he is a wondeful person. and he will still be around guding us in our life. because he will never die in our memories. or in our hearts and this is how we stay stong, and keep the memory of him strong. i love you chuck i know youre listing and i know you love me and love everyone who loves you. You always had a good heart. and i know your soul is still here and you want everyone to be happy because thats the type of person you were and still are i love you

[Charlies Mom]

Thank you, you are so sweet and kind to write such beautiful thoughts about Charlie and anyone who knew him knew that what you wrote is true, he was/is a loving and giving person and I know that his kind and caring heart here has gained him many rewards in the afterlife. He will continue to be with us guiding us in his gentle and loving way.

concerned wrote:

let this buteyful day remind of us chuck because he was a beautiful person, and i will never forget chuck. he is a wondeful person. and he will still be around guding us in our life. because he will never die in our memories. or in our hearts and this is how we stay stong, and keep the memory of him strong. i love you chuck i know youre listing and i know you love me and love everyone who loves you. You always had a good heart. and i know your soul is still here and you want everyone to be happy because thats the type of person you were and still are i love you

[Bernard DeVito]

Sal, Romona, Michael,
My heart once again goes out to each of you. I feel your hurt and helplessly cannot think of the right words to or deeds to comfort you. I just would like you to know that anytime you would feel a need to talk or vent please do not hesitate to call me anytime. You would never be bothering me. I don't know if I would have answers or say the right words but I am a good listener. While I know everyday is a struggle, these last 5 weeks must have been extra hard. I went to the cemetery Saturday, April 5th for the 1st time for Charlie's birthday because I was going to be away for the next 2 weeks including his birthday. Charlie has a beautiful resting place. I spent about a half hour there and found a little peacefulness and closeness amongst the sadness I felt. I hope you also can find that when you go. All my love and thoughts, Bernard DeVito.

[Cousin Joseph]

Although I am far away
I am still at your side.

When you miss me most
is when I am closest.

At night when you dream of me
is the time I have walked through our door again.

A discussion I had with my brother.

I know you understand.

Love you

[Charlies Mom]

Thanks Bernard, that was so nice of you to go to Charlie's "Spot" for his birthday. The last few weeks have been epecially hard with Charlie's 19th birthday, then the 6 month mark and Mother's Day.I will spend the rest of my life counting weeks, months, years. It is an awful way to live but that is the way it is now. Sadly, I am painfully aware of how much time passes without my son, I feel every minute.
Bernard thank you again for the memorial
bracelets. I have very little of the 500 left!

Bernard DeVito wrote:

Sal, Romona, Michael,
My heart once again goes out to each of you. I feel your hurt and helplessly cannot think of the right words to or deeds to comfort you. I just would like you to know that anytime you would feel a need to talk or vent please do not hesitate to call me anytime. You would never be bothering me. I don't know if I would have answers or say the right words but I am a good listener. While I know everyday is a struggle, these last 5 weeks must have been extra hard. I went to the cemetery Saturday, April 5th for the 1st time for Charlie's birthday because I was going to be away for the next 2 weeks including his birthday. Charlie has a beautiful resting place. I spent about a half hour there and found a little peacefulness and closeness amongst the sadness I felt. I hope you also can find that when you go. All my love and thoughts, Bernard DeVito.