Passaic Valley Alum Struck In Head By Line Drive At College Baseball Practice, Family Says Passaic Valley Alum Struck In Head By Line Drive At College Baseball Practice, Family Says
Passaic Valley Alum Struck In Head By Line Drive At College Baseball Practice, Family Says Nicholas Fiorita was days into his baseball career at the County College of Morris when the unthinkable happened. The freshman, who graduated from Passaic Valley High School last spring, was struck in the head by a line drive at practice on Wednesday, Sept. 4, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched by his sister, Sofia. Fiorita has been in a medically-induced coma and, although he's since been taken off of a ventilator and is breathing on his own, it's too soon to say how his brain will respond to the injury, Sofia says. As of Monday, Sept. 9, more than $35,700 had been raised on t…
Star NJ Baseball Player Nick Cocchia Dies Suddenly, 25 Star NJ Baseball Player Nick Cocchia Dies Suddenly, 25
Star NJ Baseball Player Nick Cocchia Dies Suddenly, 25 Support is on the rise for the family of former New Jersey high school baseball player Nicholas "Nick" Cocchia, who died suddenly on Monday, Aug. 26, according to his obituary on the Rossi Funeral Home website. He was 25 years old. Nick was raised in Mountainside before moving to Kenilworth with his family, his obituary says. Nick played first base, outfield, and pitched for the varsity baseball team at Governor Livingston High School in Berkley Heights, his obituary says.  He helped lead the team to their victory as state champions in 2015 before playing college baseball for Mont…
Asbury Park Artist With 'Light-Filled Soul' Critically Stabbed On Labor Day: Fundraiser Asbury Park Artist With 'Light-Filled Soul' Critically Stabbed On Labor Day: Fundraiser
Asbury Park Artist With 'Light-Filled Soul' Critically Stabbed On Labor Day: Fundraiser An Asbury Park photographer was critically injured when she was stabbed while walking with a friend on Labor Day, according to a fundraising campaign. A GoFundMe page said Andrea Laign was the victim of the afternoon Asbury Avenue stabbing on Monday, Sept. 2. The fundraiser called her a "beloved member of our creative family" in the city. The GoFundMe had raised more than $4,200 from at least 59 donations as of Thursday, Sept. 5. "It is devastating that this sweet, talented, light-filled soul is a victim of such a violent crime," wrote Michaela Murray, the fundrais…
Wrong-Way Crash Kills Groom, Cousin Night Before Bergen County Wedding Wrong-Way Crash Kills Groom, Cousin Night Before Bergen County Wedding
Wrong-Way Crash Kills Groom, Cousin Night Before Bergen County Wedding A weekend that would've been one of the happiest for the families of Kirk Walker and Shauntea Weaver ended in tragedy. The pair were set to marry on Sunday, Aug. 25 at The Royal Manor in Garfield. But early Saturday morning, Aug. 24, Walker, 38, and his cousin, Robert "Todd" McLaurin, 40, were killed by a wrong-way driver on the Henry Hudson Parkway in New York City, according to loved ones and the NYPD.  As of Thursday, Sept. 5, more than $31,900 had been raised on a GoFundMe for Weaver, whose Facebook page says she is a nurse who lives in Teaneck. According to the campaign launched…
Flight Crew Raises $18K For Family Of Popular Atlantic Air Nurse Jay McChesney Flight Crew Raises $18K For Family Of Popular Atlantic Air Nurse Jay McChesney
Flight Crew Raises $18K For Family Of Popular Atlantic Air Nurse Jay McChesney A fundraiser has been launched to aid the family of Jay McChesney, a New Jersey father and flight nurse who died last month at 55 years old. Jay, of Hillsborough, died on Friday, Aug. 30, leaving behind his wife, Jennette and their three children, Jordan, James, and Joe. Nicknamed an "All American Hero," Jay was a founding member of the Atlantic Air 1 medevac team and was a nurse at Robert Wood Johnson after having spent 24 years serving in the Coast Guard. As of Tuesday, Sept. 3, more than $18,000 had been raised on the GoFundMe for the McChesney family, launched by members of Jay's f…
'It Was Always Matty And John:' Pregnant Gaudreau Widow Has Special Message For Sister-In-Law 'It Was Always Matty And John:' Pregnant Gaudreau Widow Has Special Message For Sister-In-Law
'It Was Always Matty And John:' Pregnant Gaudreau Widow Has Special Message For Sister-In-Law Madeline Gaudreau is speaking out after her husband and his brother's death, leaving her a single mom-to-be — tragically, unexpectedly. Madeline, who was expecting baby Tripp with 29-year-old Matthew Gaudreau when he and his 31-year-old brother Johnny were struck and killed by suspected drunk driver and New Jersey National Guardsman, Sean Higgins. She says the two were each other's best friends. "It was always Matty & John," Madeline said on Instagram days after the Oldmans Township crash. "I can’t even put into words the bond these two had and right now I don’t have the strength.…
Matt Gaudreau Was Expecting Baby With Wife, Madeline, Campaign Says Matt Gaudreau Was Expecting Baby With Wife, Madeline, Campaign Says
Matt Gaudreau Was Expecting Baby With Wife, Madeline, Campaign Says The Gaudreau family had much to look forward to. Katie Gaudreau was set to marry Devin Joyce on Friday, Aug. 30. Johnny Gaudreau and his wife, Meredith, were weeks away from celebrating their daughter's second birthday. Matt Gaudreau and his wife, Madeline, were expecting a baby, according to a GoFundMe page launched for Madeline's future. ALSO SEE: Pregnant Gaudreau Widow Has Special Message For Sister-In-Law But the Gaudreau family's happy future was ripped away from them on Thursday, Aug. 29, when brothers Matt and Johnny were struck and killed by a DUI driver …
Bergen County Family Critical In South Carolina Road Trip Crash Bergen County Family Critical In South Carolina Road Trip Crash
Bergen County Family Critical In South Carolina Road Trip Crash Several members of a Bergen County family were in critical condition following a crash on a summer vacation. A GoFundMe launched for Vivek Talwar, his wife, Kiran Bhat Talwar, and their four children, of Cresskill, says they were on a road trip when they were involved in a crash on Friday morning, Aug. 23, outside Charleston, SC. Colleton County Fire-Rescue Vivek, Kiran, and one child remain hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, while three of their children were released from the hospital but required assistive devices to move, reads the campaign launched by Tuisha Desai…
Bally's Casino HVAC Tech, Army Vet James Osler Jr. Dies, 36 Bally's Casino HVAC Tech, Army Vet James Osler Jr. Dies, 36
Bally's Casino HVAC Tech, Army Vet James Osler Jr. Dies, 36 James "Jim" Osler, of Somers Point, died on Aug. 24 due to complications of kidney disease, according to his obituary on the Adams-Perfect Funeral Home website. He was 36 years old. A U.S. Army veteran who served six years, Jim worked as an HVAC Technician for the Local 68 at Bally's Casino in Atlantic City, his obituary says. A GoFundMe for the family had raised more than $3,400 as of press time. The campaign says Jim met his wife, Devon, while working at Ashley Furniture, and they just celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary. "Jim and Devon have supported every sport and ac…
'Beyond Devastation:' Family Mourns Loss Of NJ Woman Found Dead In Alabama 'Beyond Devastation:' Family Mourns Loss Of NJ Woman Found Dead In Alabama
'Beyond Devastation:' Family Mourns Loss Of NJ Woman Found Dead In Alabama Support is on the rise for the family of a New Jersey woman who was found dead on an Alabama roadside earlier this month. As of Wednesday, Aug. 28, more than $5,500 had been raised on a GoFundMe for the family of Long Branch resident, Miyell A. Johnson, who also went by, Kimberly Ann Agere, 29. No foul play was suspected in Johnson's death, after her body was found on Saturday morning, Aug. 10, as reported by ABC3340. "Miyell A. Johnson, was a delightful young lady," her mother wrote on the GoFundMe. "She was sweet & funny, she also loved to sing,dance & was her own beautician…
Remembering Sophia DeTorres, NJ High Schooler Killed On First Day Of School Remembering Sophia DeTorres, NJ High Schooler Killed On First Day Of School
Remembering Sophia DeTorres, NJ High Schooler Killed On First Day Of School Life was only beginning for Sophia DeTorres. The 16-year-old North Hunterdon High School student was a competitive and award-winning dancer of 11 years and had been looking at colleges, preparing for life's next chapter, according to her obituary on the Martin Funeral Home website. Sophia, who also ran cross country and track, visited Boson College, Cornell, and Wake Forest, on her early shortlist, and was hoping to major in psychology "in keeping with her drive to help people," her obituary says. But life was cut short for Sophia on Thursday, Aug. 22, when she was killed in…
Warren Hills HS Grad Taylor Cerza Dies Suddenly, 27, Leaving Behind 2 Daughters Warren Hills HS Grad Taylor Cerza Dies Suddenly, 27, Leaving Behind 2 Daughters
Warren Hills HS Grad Taylor Cerza Dies Suddenly, 27, Leaving Behind 2 Daughters Taylor M. Cerza, a Warren Hills High School graduate who lived in Hampton, died suddenly on Friday, Aug. 16 in Oxford, according to her obituary on the Warren Hills Memorial Home website. She was 27 years old. A Great Meadows native, Taylor worked as a direct support professional for Abilities of NW Jersey and was a loving mother to her two kids, Layla Knoop and Frankie Lee Golovko, her obituary says. A GoFundMe launched in Taylor's memory had raised more than $9,200 as of press time. "Taylor has two young beautiful daughters that will now have to grow up without their mommy so my fam…