DJ / Vince McCann (Uncle)
DJ, every time I think of you, I can still hear the excitement in your moms voice when you called me "Uncle Winnie the Pooh" for the first time…I know you already know how much you are missed and continuously thought of. You are a true shining star; you are missed by everyone who was lucky enough to have known you, but more important is the fact that you are remembered in everyone’s heart and in our love for you as the memories of you grows rather than fades as time goes on. Close

Thank you to the Naples Chapter of the Chrome Diva's  / Anne (Mother)

A heartfelt thank you to all of you! The gifts you gave to me are far more intrinsic than the tangible marker for my son's grave, that you so selflessly made possible.

My son, David, always said;

". . . Mom, the only thing that matters is when something is given with a pure heart . . ." He'd explain that if you were not doing or giving without ANY thoughts of reward it was not worth doing.

What you all did was done with pure hearts. What a beautiful testimony to David's philosophy.

Until David died I always professed; ". . . it takes a village. . ." After he died I questioned that and thought I was so wrong.

Then all of you came into my life. People I did not know came together to give a gift to someone they did not know, for someone they did not know, with pure hearts. . . this act of kindness and compassion restored my faith that community is good ... people are good ... there is unconditional love. 

At the moment David died I was praying the rosary, as I'd done most of life on a daily basis. "How could God take my son while I was praying to him, remembering Jesus' life and death ... through his mother ... " Needless to say I felt wrong again.

Then all of you came into my life, restoring my faith in community, with pure hearts. I looked up the patron saint of motorcycle riders; it's Mary.

These gifts are eternal. You have filled my heart with thanks, restored some of my faith in me, David, the community, and God.

There's more... and one day I'll want to share it with each and every one of you.

In God's Unfailing Love, Anne

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A paper by David . . .  / Anne Rinaldi-Nonamaker (Mother)

Cheap Meat

written on 9/19/99

by a man born on 9/22/80

 

               One rainy day while I was briskly trotting from the parking lot into the local Publix, I noticed the large writing on the windows of the store boasted of sales within. The phrase “Cheap Meat” comes to mind. These sentence fragments, slang terms and unconventional contractions were scribbled in florescent pinks and iridescent purples. To be honest, I remember being humiliated and offended by the fact that I was subjected to such an offensive advertisement. While peering at the store front in disgust I saw a a man on the opposite side of these windows. To add to my distaste for the window I could not see him clearly due to the graffiti-like messages. I noticed this man was quite dapper in his dress, very pleasant to observe. Obviously grooming and coordinating clothing were high on this strangers priority list. I felt a sort of kinship with this gent. As though we had been close friends, or perhaps bitter enemies! He trotted so similarly to me as if not to get wet from the drizzle. How unnecessary though, because it was not raining inside the store! For a split second the breeze died down and the scent of some designer cologne seemed to fill the parking lot. The pleasant aroma was so familiar. I spent a second running through the list in my mind of fragrances I used. I came to the unlikely conclusion that this scent was the same which I had chosen to wear that day. I did not want to be caught endlessly starring in awe of the similarities, so my eyes wandered a few ties. When I returned to focusing on the man in the store, I realized he was headed for the door and still walking toward me. I wondered when he would stop trotting in the direction of the window, for if he continued much longer he would certainly have a collision!

               In my awe of this seemingly flawless man I realized I too was heading for the window! I could foresee myself colliding with the offensive window so I quickly moved toward the door. By this time the man was standing, almost posing, as to silently deny the fact that he had just avoided an embarrassing violent encounter with the window! I too was standing just on the outside of the noisy, distracting electric door, which continually opened and closed because either he or myself was standing in the range of the sensor. The man was no more than two or three feet away now, and I could see him clearly through the marred glass. Up close he was not the dapper, flawless, trotting man. He looked timid and insecure. He frequently tugged at the front of his shirt, to avoid the dampness from causing the material to conform to the contours of his body. The man was noticeably out to breath, and overweight. I realized that the cologne I enjoyed smelling must have been mine, not his! I casually wiped my moistened forehead as tastefully as I knew how, and so did the man. I chose to pay more attention to the man when the door opened, but with the opening of the door, he disappeared! The man was me, my reflection.

               I was shocked! I sat for a moment on a wooden bench outside the store. I did not sit comfortably however. The bench had been painted numerous times and was chipped and dirty. I needed a moment to gather my thoughts and evaluate this experience I unknowingly endured. I had been so fooled by the “man” from afar. He had appeared to be so confident, almost overly confident. I recalled using the term “flawless” to describe him. A closer look revealed the painful truth though. The man was me. I was timid and insecure. My dress and proper grooming techniques were all a disguise. I tugged at my shirt. I was short of breath. I was living a lie. Lying to myself and misrepresenting myself to others. (or so I thought)

               That was the day I decided to make a drastic change. Until then I had a distorted self image. I portrayed myself, to myself, as being flawless. In believing I was flawless, I felt I had the license to critique others, and other things. I would be so viciously critical of such insignificant, harmless things as benches and windows. I was not idle for another second. I did not go into the store that day. I went home and developed a plan of action. I decided to change my diet and exercise. A simple yet effective method of both changing my self-image and the way I perceived others and other things.

               Catching a reflection in a window at the grocery store is a common occurrence for everyone. As a matter of fact it is still to the day a common occurrence for me, yet the impact of that one rainy day is absent and no longer necessary! I have been successful in changing my lifestyle. I have lost 100 pounds and I strive to be a very understanding person. I do my best to take into account the circumstances which effect everything, before judging if I choose to judge at all!!

               I now go the same Publix quite often. Sometimes on days when we are blessed  with rain to keep our grounds green and our lakes full!! I no longer briskly trot from my car to the front of the store, I run! I enjoy being welcomed by bright colors and clever phraseology. I occasionally am inspired to take advantage of whatever product is being advertised as being on sale, even “Cheap Meat”.

               I never forget to look at the man walking toward me in the window. I was not mistaken, I do know him very well. He is both my closest friend and at times my most bitter enemy. He and I are in this long journey together and I learn so much from him!

 

 

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Dear Anne  / Bonnie Rossi (Friend of David's Mom )
Thinking of you tonight on the second anniversary of your beloved David's passing and wishing you were back here in Connecticut. I miss you, and I hope you can feel his love all around you - I wish you love, peace and strength on this day, and always. Cherish each and every memory as David will be with you forever - Locked in your heart - Safe and warm and forever your beautiful boy - Love , Bonnie Rossi Close

David Merry Christmas  / Michael Longo (cousin)
David...... this is our 2nd x-mas with out you and its gonna be hard.... Its gonna be hard because i know i wont be able to see you... or see u walk into the house with a big smile on your face and ask were the food is lol just kidding... there is not a day that goes by that iam not thinking of you. I remeber the time we scraped change and money to go to the mall and by the orginal texas chainsaw massacre... then wathced it at my house with charles and his girlfriend.. that was one of the best times i had with you and ill never watch that movie again. i wish i could talk to you again just for a min to tell you how much i love you, and that u were the best cousin i could possibly have the way u looked out for me and mad sure that i was stayin out of trouble. you were more then a cousin to me and i never realized that till now... i know i have done somethings that wouldnt make u proud and iam sorry but iam doin good now.... i hope ur safe in the lords arms.... and u will always be alive in my heart and prayers Love you and Merry Christmas.... xoxoxoxxoxo Close

An Invitation: March 9, 2005  / Anne Rinaldi-Nonamaker (Mother)
David's 1st year Memorial Gathering

12:00 St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church:
          Memorial Mass

12:45 Naples Memorial Cemetery:
         Graveside Intentions

2:00 Frascati's Italian Restaurant:
       Come share your memories of David over lunch. Close