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Obituaries
Community Mourns 'Unimaginable Loss' Of 32-Year-Old Long Island Man Community Mourns 'Unimaginable Loss' Of 32-Year-Old Long Island Man
Community Mourns 'Unimaginable Loss' Of 32-Year-Old Long Island Man After the sudden death of a Long Island auto service center employee, friends and family are remembering his “big personality and kind heart.” Daniel Cicio, age 32, of Levittown, died on Thursday, Oct. 19 when he was struck by a jeep at his place of work.  Earlier Story: ID Released For Service Station Employee Struck, Killed By Jeep In Wantagh Nicknamed “The Lord” in his obituary, Daniel has left behind not only family and friends but a larger community who knew him for his kindness and joy. “The unimaginable pain of losing a child has struck our family,” wrote Daniel’s cousin, Mich…

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by Sophie Grieser
Obituaries
Nearly 1,000 Turn Out For Funeral Of Ex-HS Football Captain Who Died In Crash On Long Island Nearly 1,000 Turn Out For Funeral Of Ex-HS Football Captain Who Died In Crash On Long Island
Nearly 1,000 Turn Out For Funeral Of Ex-HS Football Captain Who Died In Crash On Long Island Joe Wolfe always knew his son was well-liked, but he didn't fully understand how loved he was until his funeral last week. Massapequa resident Devin Wolfe, age 30, a New Jersey native, died in a car crash on Long Island on Saturday, Sept. 9 in Brightwaters. His former teammates, friends from childhood, peers from college at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, coworkers, coaches, teachers, and relatives flew and drove out to New Jersey for Wolfe's services Thursday, Sept. 14, and Friday, Sept. 15 in Bergen County. Seeing the nearly 1,000 of them lining up for visita…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Beloved NY Anchor Ruschell Boone Dies At Age 48: 'A Tenacious Journalist' Beloved NY Anchor Ruschell Boone Dies At Age 48: 'A Tenacious Journalist'
Beloved NY Anchor Ruschell Boone Dies At Age 48: 'A Tenacious Journalist' Longtime Spectrum News NY1 anchor and reporter Ruschell Boone has died just months after returning to the anchor chair following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Boone died Sunday, Sept. 3, at the age of 48 due to cancer-related complications, the station announced Tuesday, Sept. 5. “For 21 years, Ruschell was a member of our staff, as well as a friend and mentor to many.” A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Boone immigrated to the Bronx with her family when she was 11 years old.  The Emmy award-winning journalist joined NY1 in 2002 as a Queens reporter after discovering a passion for journa…

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by Michael Mashburn
Obituaries
24-Year-Old Fairfield University Grad Killed In Crash ID'd As Daughter Of Ex-NBA Player 24-Year-Old Fairfield University Grad Killed In Crash ID'd As Daughter Of Ex-NBA Player
24-Year-Old Fairfield University Grad Killed In Crash ID'd As Daughter Of Ex-nba Player A young woman killed in a horrific Connecticut crash earlier this week was the first child and only daughter of a former NBA player. Tiara Wheeler was 24 years old. Her father, Tyson Wheeler, played for the University of Rhode Island men's basketball team as point guard from 1994 to 1998 when the Rams advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight before being drafted by the Toronto Raptors. He later appeared in an NBA game as a member of the Denver Nuggets in 1999. The crash took place in New London County on Monday, Aug. 28 at around 9:30 p.m. in Groton at the intersection of Long Hill Road and t…

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by Joe Lombardi
Obituaries
'An Amazing Soul': Support Swells For Widow, Son Of Long Island Athlete Who Died At Age 40 'An Amazing Soul': Support Swells For Widow, Son Of Long Island Athlete Who Died At Age 40
'An Amazing Soul': Support Swells For Widow, Son Of Long Island Athlete Who Died At Age 40 The community is rallying around a Long Island family following the sudden loss of a beloved husband and father. Dominic McNulty, of Seaford, died Friday, Aug. 25, at the age of 40 following a brief illness, according to his obituary. “We lost an amazing soul,” reads a GoFundMe created by Lyndsey Hogg. “Dom was one of a kind with a heart of gold. He was an angel in disguise here on earth who did everything for everyone else.” Born in East Meadow, McNulty was an avid athlete. He played Little League baseball and later goalie and catcher for Kellenberg High School’s hockey and baseball team…

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by Michael Mashburn
Obituaries
Support Pours In For Family Of CT College Student Killed Entering Wrong Home Near Campus Support Pours In For Family Of CT College Student Killed Entering Wrong Home Near Campus
Support Pours In For Family Of CT College Student Killed Entering Wrong Home Near Campus Support is pouring in for the family of a college student from Connecticut who was shot and killed attempting to enter the wrong house near the campus of the University of South Carolina. Updated story - New Info Released: Shooting Of CT 20-Year-Old Who Tried Entering Wrong Home Deemed Justifiable New Haven County resident Nick Donofrio, age 20, of Madison, was found dead having suffered a gunshot wound to the upper body, on the front porch of a home in Columbia, South Carolina on the 500 block of South Holly Street around 2 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, the city's police department said. …

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by Kathy Reakes
Obituaries
'Ava's Army' Grieves LI 16-Year-Old Whose Resilience Amid Cancer Battle 'Never Faltered' 'Ava's Army' Grieves LI 16-Year-Old Whose Resilience Amid Cancer Battle 'Never Faltered'
'Ava's Army' Grieves LI 16-Year-Old Whose Resilience Amid Cancer Battle 'Never Faltered' Friends and loved ones are mourning the loss of a beloved Long Island teenager being remembered for her smile and positive attitude throughout the cancer battle that ultimately claimed her life. Ava Salonia died Thursday, Aug. 17, at the age of 16 following a brief battle with leukemia, her family announced on Facebook. “Her smile, good nature, and resiliency never faltered throughout,” reads their post on the Ava’s Army Facebook group. “Our family would like to thank the community for their outpouring of support to the Salonia family during this past year.” Salonia, a sophomore at Oceans…

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by Michael Mashburn
Obituaries
Couple Killed In Wrong-Way Long Island Crash ID'd: 'The World Is A Darker Place Without You' Couple Killed In Wrong-Way Long Island Crash ID'd: 'The World Is A Darker Place Without You'
Couple Killed In Wrong-Way Long Island Crash ID'd: 'The World Is A Darker Place Without You' A man and woman killed in a double-fatal Long Island crash in which the driver was allegedly intoxicated have been identified. Married couple Ismenia and Odalis Ureña, of Syosset and both age 37, were the victims of the Laurel Hollow crash that occurred on Saturday, Aug. 12, Nassau County Police said. Read the original story: Double-Fatal Crash: Syosset Man Accused Of Driving Drunk After SUV, Ferrari Collide At approximately 12:30 a.m. on that day, 32-year-old Sotirios Spanos of Syosset was traveling eastbound on Northern Boulevard. He was near the vicinity of Moores Hill Road w…

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by Sophie Grieser
Obituaries
'Everyone Was Family To Him': Community Mourns Three Village Dad, Husband After Sudden Death 'Everyone Was Family To Him': Community Mourns Three Village Dad, Husband After Sudden Death
'Everyone Was Family To Him': Community Mourns Three Village Dad, Husband After Sudden Death Days after the unexpected death of a Long Island man, community members have amassed funds to support his widow and their four-year-old daughter. “Brian didn’t have acquaintances or friends, he only had family. Everyone was family to him and that’s how he lived and loved.” On Sunday, Aug. 6, Brian Flaherty died of a heart attack in his sleep, according to his wife Lenora and a GoFundMe set up by her sister, Arianna Zee. Zee said that, though Lenora attempted to revive him with 911 on the phone, it was too late. Now, as Lenora and the couple’s four-year-old daughter Francesca navigate l…

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by Sophie Grieser
Obituaries
Triple-Fatal Crash: Support Pours In For Family Of Father, Children Killed On Long Island Triple-Fatal Crash: Support Pours In For Family Of Father, Children Killed On Long Island
Triple-Fatal Crash: Support Pours In For Family Of Father, Children Killed On Long Island The Long Island community is doing what it can to aid a family after a father and his two children were killed in a crash that also left two other family members in critical condition. Sunday, Aug. 6 was not a normal day for Patrice Huntley. It was meant to be a special day. In addition to it being his son’s birthday, the 60-year-old Flushing resident had just received a job promotion and wanted to celebrate both with his family. Patrice took his four children and stepgranddaughter out to get ice cream.  But at approximately 7:20 p.m., while the family was waiting at a red light on Sun…

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by Sophie Grieser
Obituaries
Community Mourns Loss Of Mattituck Firefighter Following Sudden Death Community Mourns Loss Of Mattituck Firefighter Following Sudden Death
Community Mourns Loss Of Mattituck Firefighter Following Sudden Death Firefighters, friends, and acquaintances alike are grieving for a Long Island firefighter after her recent and sudden death. Kathie Cibulski died on Tuesday, Aug. 1 following a brief and recent battle with cancer, according to an announcement by the Cutchogue Fire Department. The 56-year-old Mattituck native joined the department in 2004. She spent time serving as a past officer, EMT, and the department’s Chicken Barbecue Chairperson. “Most importantly,” the department wrote, Kathie was “a friend to many.” Kathie Cibulski.Facebook/Cutchogue Fire Department A Facebook post announci…

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by Sophie Grieser
Obituaries
‘Pillar Of Our Community’: Support Swells For Family Of Late West Islip Dad, Husband ‘Pillar Of Our Community’: Support Swells For Family Of Late West Islip Dad, Husband
‘Pillar Of Our Community’: Support Swells For Family Of Late West Islip Dad, Husband After the years that one Long Island man spent with his community, the community hopes to help his family in their time of need. “Knowing Jim meant that you had a loyal friend for life who would always be there in good times and would be the first one to be there when times went bad.” On Thursday, June 8, Jim Weydig died following a three-year battle with cancer. Jim (also known to various people as James, Jimmy, Digger, and Digs was “a pillar of our community,” according to a GoFundMe set up by friends of the Weydig family. He served many roles in the community – Jim was an architect…

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by Sophie Grieser