EAST HAVEN, CT—In an unimaginable tragedy, five-year-old Cooper Villano's life ended last Thursday on an East Haven roadway.
But the light and spirit of the smiling-faced child live on as the community has wrapped its collective arms around his family.
According to his obituary, Cooper was a shining light.
A cherished Deer Run School kindergartener whose smile, spirit, and personality brought joy to everyone around him. In his five precious years, he made a lasting impact, especially through his love of East Haven Little League baseball. Though his life was far too short, Cooper touched the hearts of his family, friends, classmates, teammates, coaches, and teachers, leaving behind a legacy of love and memories that will last forever.
In the days that followed his inconceivable death, the community rallied. Neighbors, friends, Little League families, local businesses, and people who simply wanted to help began finding ways to wrap their arms around the Villano family with gatherings, meals, donations, prayers, and messages of love.
In less than 48 hours, T-shirts were designed and created in Cooper's memory—with all proceeds for his family. Businesses offered gift cards, services, and raffle baskets for a fundraiser for the Villano family.
All part of East Haven's way of saying: "You are not alone."
For Cooper's Little League family, his absence is especially difficult to comprehend. Baseball was one of the things Cooper loved, and the Little League community became part of his childhood. Now, that same community is helping keep his memory alive.
East Haven Little League created "EAST HAVEN STRONG FOR COOPER" shirts as a way to honor Cooper and stand beside his family. Created in collaboration with Cooper's dad, the shirts carry a simple message with a powerful meaning. The front reads "EAST HAVEN PROUD." Cooper's name appears on the back.
The event Sunday at the Foxon Fire Station drew hundreds. The shirts are available online in blue with white lettering or white with blue lettering, the shirts are $25,with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to the Villano family.
Cooper's name will be seen throughout East Haven and far beyond, reminding his family that an entire community is carrying his memory with them.
Local businesses have joined the effort as well, donating gift cards, services, gift baskets and other items for a fundraiser benefiting the Villano family.
The fundraiser will be held Oct. 5 and Oct. 12 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at 'The Pit' (Kennedy Field) on Maple Street. Raffle tickets are $2 each or $20 for an arm's length of tickets. The drawing will take place Oct. 12, and participants do not need to be present to win. Every dollar raised will go directly to the Villano family.
The long list of businesses offering their support is a testament to something that can be difficult to see until a tragedy strikes: communities are made up of people who are willing to help carry one another when the weight becomes too heavy for one family to carry alone.
The Deer Run Elementary School PTA posted to Facebook: "We ask that you keep the Villano family in your thoughts and prayers. We tragically lost one of our own yesterday, and it is truly heartbreaking! Cooper, you will truly be missed by so many."
Support has also come through a meal train organized for the family. The response has been extraordinary; as of Monday, $67,101 was raised from 876 people toward a $25,000 goal.
Created by Villano family cousins, the family put his spirit into words:
"This world will be a little bit darker without your bright light that brought a smile to everyone's face that came in contact with you. You always knew how to get us all to smile and laugh when we didn't want to. You were so naturally gifted in your learning and, most importantly, baseball. We will all cherish all the memories you gave us for 5 years."
Connor's five years were far too short. But they were five years filled with love, laughter, learning, baseball, and memories. Those will stay with the people who knew him. And now, his memory is creating new memories of its own—of neighbors helping neighbors, businesses giving what they can, teammates standing together, and an entire community refusing to let a grieving family face the days ahead alone.
According to his obituary, Connor's service will be held at Vox Church in Branford Thursday at 11 a.m. The obituary notes that the family hopes attendees wear sports jerseys or attire in celebration of his love of sports. In the obituary, his family asks that instead of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to East Haven Little League.
Read more here >> East Haven Child, 5, Struck, Killed By Vehicle Thursday: Police
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