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According to LoHud, Reid Kasunic was found dead Thursday, Jan. 15 in his car in the parking lot of a Sunoco station on North Broadway in White Plains.
Kasunic was about to attend Stony Brook University to complete a bachelor's degree in computer programming according to his obituary. Kasunic previously had attended Westchester Community College.
Kasunic was described as a supportive friend and devoted family member who struggled with addiction and recovery for the last two years.
His family said his immune system was weakened from a recent illness and his body could not handle the stress of a relapse.
Visitation will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 .m. on Thursday, Jan. 22 and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23 at Edward F. Carter Funeral Home at 41 Grand St. in Croton-on-Hudson. The memorial service will be held there 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Kasunic's name can be made to: St. Vincent's Hospital Westchester, Addiction Recovery Services.
Steve Salomone, a Carmel resident, runs Drug Crisis In Our Backyard with his wife, Susan. The Salomones founded the organization after their son, Justin, died of a heroin overdose in May 2012.
"We continue to advocate for addiction issues within families," Salomone said. "We do what we can to support families and are continuing with our awareness campaign."
Salomone thinks heroin use is increasing as it becomes harder to access prescription drugs. He said Kasunic's death shows the heroin problem is not going away.
"It's not going away just because we're talking about," Salomone said. "We need more legislation and education. We need the schools to step up and put this issue in the curriculum."
The arrests pleased Salomone, who hopes it makes people think twice about dealing heroin.
"We need to spend as much time on prevention as we do enforcement," Salomone said.
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