Thursday, October 31, 2013

Charlotte Bacon, age 6

picture from People magazine
 
Information from Huffington post, Newtown Kindness, obituary
 
 
Charlotte was an extraordinarily gifted six year old who filled her family each day with joy and love. The family will forever remember her beautiful smile, her energy for life, and the unique way she expressed her individuality, usually with the color pink. Charlotte never met an animal she didn’t love and since the age of two wanted to be a veterinarian. She enjoyed practicing Tae Kwon Do weekly with her dad and brother where she relished kicking and throwing punches! She also loved the song "Home" by Phillip Phillips. Was also a Daisy Girl Scout. Had just gotten a special pink dress and pink boots she was going to wear on Christmas - couldn't wait to show her friends - she wore that on Friday, her last day at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
 
 
Birthday: February 22
 
 
On November 1st, I will play "Home" by Phillip Phillips for Charlotte


Daniel Barden, age 7

picture from People magazine
 
 
Information from Huffington post, newtimes, obituary,
 
Daniel was the light of his family's life. Adored and admired by all, Daniel touched the lives of all who knew him with his warmth, inspiring spirit of kindness and generosity, outgoing and affectionate nature, and his imaginative play. Daniel loved spending time with his family, both immediate and extended, riding waves at the beach, playing the drums in a band with his brother James and sister Natalie, foosball, reading, and making s'mores around the bonfire with his cousins at his Papa's house in Smallwood, NY. Daniel was on the Newtown soccer team and the Newtown Torpedoes swim team. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newstimes/obituary.aspx?pid=161773478#sthash.yetypdpr.dpuf
 
Fearless in the pursuit of happiness and life. A very special boy. Always smiling, unfailingly polite, incredibly affectionate, fair, and thoughtful towards others. Imaginative, intelligent, articulate. "Daniel the Maniel". Wholesome and innocent.
 
One Smile At a Time.
 


www.facebook.com/WhatWouldDanielDo


https://www.facebook.com/TheSandyGroundWhereAngelsPlay?directed_target_id=0

On November 1st, I will take orders for WWDD bracelets in Daniel Barden's memory.

Jack Pinto, age 6

picture from People magazine
 
 
Information from Huffington Post, NJ.com, newstimes.com
 
Jack was an avid participant in a wide variety of activities including flag football, baseball, basketball, wrestling, and snow skiing. Jack was an incredibly loving and vivacious young boy, appreciated by all who knew him for his lively and giving spirit and steely determination. In life and in death, Jack will forever be remembered for the immeasurable joy he brought to all who had the pleasure of knowing him, a joy whose wide reach belied his six short years - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newstimes/obituary.aspx?pid=161771440#sthash.lNN8Dfou.dpuf
 
Jack's wide smile would light up a room. Jack was a dedicated wrestler on a travel team and missed his tournament on Sunday - the coach gave the family Jack's singlet in remembrance. Jack was also a huge NY Giant's fan and an avid fan of Victor Cruz wearing his #80 jersey to his final resting place.
 
 
On November 1st, I will remember Jack by wearing NY Giants logo on my hand like it is on his cheek. And on November 17 and 24 I will watch the Giants, pull for Victor Cruz, and cheer for Jack. 

Noah Pozner, age 6

picture from People Magazine
 
 
Information from eulogy and Huffington post
 
Noah and his family were members of the Orthodox Synagogue Temple Adath Israel.  Noah loved to read and to figure out how things worked mechanically. Noah is survived by his twin sister and best friend, Arielle,who was assigned to a different classroom at Sandy Hook Elementary School. He is described as a bright, precocious, sweet, adorable kid.
 
From mother, Veronique Pozner:
Noah, my little man. I will miss your forceful and purposeful little steps stomping through our house. I will miss your perpetual smile, the twinkle in your dark blue eyes, framed by eyelashes that would be the envy of any lady in this room. Most of all, I will miss your visions of your future. You wanted to be a doctor, a soldier, a taco factory manager. It was your favorite food, and no doubt you wanted to ensure that the world kept producing tacos. You were a little boy whose life force had all the gravitational pull of a celestial body. You were light and love, mischief and pranks. You adored your family with every fiber of your 6-year-old being.... A little maverick, who didn't always want to do his schoolwork or clean up his toys, when practicing his ninja moves or Super Mario on the Wii seemed far more important...Noah, you will not pass through this way again. I can only believe that you were planted on Earth to bloom in heaven. Take flight, my boy. Soar. You now have the wings you always wanted... Your melody will linger in our hearts forever.
___
From uncle, Alexis Haller, of Woodinville, Wash.:
...Noah was a wonderful son and a loving brother. He was kind, caring, smart, funny, and sometimes even a little mischievous. He liked to tell his sisters that he worked in a taco factory; when they asked him how he got to work, he would give them a funny look as if to say he knew something that they didn't. Noah was a little kid. He loved animals, video games and Mario Brothers. He was already a very good reader, and had just bought a Ninjago book at a book fair that he was really excited about reading...What we can do is carry Noah within us, always. We can remember the joy he brought to us. We can hold his memory close to our hearts. We can treasure him forever. And all of us, including the family, the community, the country and the world, can honor Noah by loving each other and taking care of each other.* That's what Noah would have wanted.

www.noahpozner.org

I will honor Noah on November 1st with Tacos and *taking care of and loving my kids. 

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Jessica Rekos, age 6

picture from People magazine
 
 
Information from Huffington post, People magazine, obituary, and memorial site.
 
 
Jessica loved horses and everything equestrian. Watched horse movies, read horse books, drew horse pictures, wrote horse stories. She was promised her very own horse when she turned 10. Jessica started riding in 2011 on a pony named "Waffles". In her first competition, she won a blue ribbon. Jessica and Waffles were going to go far. Jessica asked for cowgirl boots and a cowgirl hat for Christmas. Jessica had two younger brothers and she was the "CEO" of the family. Jessica, first born in the family, "was our rock," the parents said. "She had an answer for everything, she didn't miss a trick, and she outsmarted us every time." A thoughtful planner, she was "our little CEO." - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/ns/obituary.aspx?pid=161726367#sthash.mquBo45k.dpuf
 
PONY RIDES FOR JESSICA is devoted to keeping Jessica's love of horses and riding alive by working closely with her parents to give underprivileged children two special gifts, the relationship between horse and rider and the relationship between student and instructor.
 
 
 
 
On November1st, I will have the cowboy boots that my son received from Santa when he was 5 out by the fire with us in Jessica Rekos' memory.
 
On May 10th, I will do something for Pony Rides for Jessica.

Caroline Previdi, age 6

picture from People magazine
 
 
Information from Huffington post and Caroline's Memorial site.
 
"Silly Caroline" Contagious smile. Loves to draw and dance. Member of St. Rose of Lima Church. Always helping other children. In first grade, she would help the kindergartner get on the bus so he wouldn't be scared. Caroline was a bright-eyed, cheerful, joyful little girl. She found delight in the smallest things in life and often exclaimed things like,"Isn't that WONDERFUL?".  She had a sheer enthusiasm and zest for life.  She cared deeply for others.  When Caroline was five, just before Christmas, she brought her piggy bank to her parents.  She told them she was going to donate all of her money to their church.  She wanted to make sure that every child had a present under the tree on Christmas morning. Caroline was the friend who wanted to "make sure everyone was ok." She was an encourager, a helper.  She would offer a hug or hold a hand.  Her joy came from within, and she wanted to share it. When talking about her family, or herself, she would tell people,"We are not lucky.  We are blessed! "She was exceptionally energetic and embraced new activities in the same exuberant manner that she approached life.  Swim team.  Girl Scouts. Gymnastics. Soccer. She wanted to do it all.  At home, she could usually be found coloring or drawing. Other times, she was busy twirling, dancing, or singing.  From all of her drawing and twirling emerged Caroline's two true passions: art and dance. She danced through this life with enthusiasm and compassion.

Caroline's parents want to continue Caroline's legacy by doing what was so important to her--helping other children. They established the Caroline Previdi Foundation to share Caroline's giving and caring spirit and to offer other children an opportunity to find joy in an activity they love.
 
 
 
 
On November 1st, I will remember Caroline by making sure my own daughter is signed up for the extra curricular activity of her choosing. And during our celebration, I am sure to use her line in her name, "Isn't that WONDERFUL?"

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Avielle Richman, age 6

picture from People magazine
From the Avielle Richman foundation website:
Avielle Rose Richman was born in San Diego, California on October 17th, 2006 into a family of story tellers. With a spitfire personality, and a love of laughter, Avielle was rarely without a giant grin, and was often barefoot. Like her parents, she loved stories and demanded them as she was falling asleep, taking a bath, riding in the car, and on every walk she took. She already understood that her life — her growing up — was going to be a series of stories. Avielle had a grand spirit of adventure and was willing to bravely try new things...when the family moved to Newtown, Connecticut in late January of 2011, Avielle was excited by the prospect of living where she could play in the snow, and quickly became a fearless sledder. She loved Barbies as much as superheroes, and would readily switch between fairy and pixie play and her superhero persona, Bombs Galore – all with her faithful sidekick, super-dog Max, of course. She had no problem transitioning from playing with her dolls to practicing archery in the yard, and was happy to go from a kung fu workout with dad to a cooking lesson with mom. Avielle loved music and would sing everything. When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, Avielle would reply that she wanted to be an artist… and a spy…oh, and a fairy princess, and a writer. Her open-minded willingness to try new things made for a long list of hobbies...soccer... painting and sketching, hiking, fishing, and — perhaps most of all — riding horses and swimming. Avielle’s sense of wonder, inherent in all children, drove her to love the magic of fireflies and all things that glowed. Having a fairly unique name, Avielle had grown comfortable helping people pronounce it. She’d say “Ah-Vee-Elle,” and proudly spell it out “A-V-I-E-L-L-E.” Avielle also loved to name things and, without hesitation, named her beta fish Khaihawana Punk. The large sugar maples next to her house? Efford and Maeve. And the gargoyles perched above the patio door, Galen and Grolig. She was always amazed when two people shared the same name.
 
 
Avie's parents have set up a foundation in memory of their spitfire daughter. The mission of the foundation is "preventing violence through research and community education".
 
 
I will remember Avie on November 1st by naming the fire that night "Avielle"
 
I will also spread the word of her foundation and mission throughout the Hopkins community.