Milford 'Thanks' Maren Sanchez for Her Legacy of Love and Compassion

By Brian McCready and Rich Scinto, Patch Staff

Superintendent of Schools Elizabeth Feser summed it up best Saturday when she “thanked” Maren Sanchez “for what (she) gave us in your life and what you continue to give us.”

More than 650 parents, students, city and school officials, and residents attended a celebration of Sanchez’s life at Jonathan Law High School Saturday.

The event was called “Peace, Love, and Music, From Maren.” Those were all of the things Sanchez, 16, loved, and for those who knew her best they said she left behind a legacy of compassion and caring for others.

Sanchez was stabbed to death at the school exactly one year ago by a fellow classmate.

It was a sea of purple at Law on Saturday as hundreds of people wore Sanchez’s favorite color as they participated in a 5K in her honor. Despite the colder temps, no one was complaining.

Numerous therapy dogs were also present on the grounds. Officials and students have said the dogs helped raise their spirits in the days following the tragedy.

Since Sanchez’s death there have been immeasurable acts of kindness in the community.

See related story: Milford to ‘Celebrate the Life’ and Legacy of Maren Sanchez

Feser said Sanchez was the ultimate role model for everyone. She said often we envision adults as the one’s that are the best suited as being role models for children, but there is no better person to look up to than Sanchez.

“Maren Sanchez is a fun loving, gifted teenager who rallied us all … Maren is an intelligent vibrant, warm, and caring woman who is missed terribly,” Feser said. “We grieve her loss. Maren lives on and continues to impact and inspire this community. It’s amazing.”

Feser said Sanchez is with us all. He said her life has taught us all the importance of being loving and kind toward each other.

“That is the greatest way to honor her memory,” Feser said. “We carry her spirit forward with us and we’ll be better human beings.”

Jonathan Law Principal Fran Thompson, who helped rally the school community after Sanchez’s death, thanked Maren for giving everyone such a beautiful sunny day for this celebration.

“I want to thank the student body and staff at Jonathan Law, I’m not sure how we’d get through the past year without each other,” Thompson said.

Thompson said people have asked him if he really knew Sanchez because she was one out of 1,000 students at the school, and he said he did because everyone at Law is part of a “real family.”

“Maren always made you happier after you talked to her. Everytime she touched your life you were happier,” Thompson said. “Enjoy this day. That’s what it’s all about. That’s how Maren’s love wins.”

Mayor Benjamin G. Blake said there is no double that while Saturday is a celebration of Sanchez’s life it’s also a “difficult day.”

“It’s been a difficult year,” Blake said. “Today we know Maren’s love continues to touch us with blessings.”

He said Maren’s mother and family have demonstrated immense compassion and that Sanchez brought the community together like never before.

“The city of Milford is inspired,” Blake said.

Saturday’s celebration of Maren’s life was initiated by Maren’s mother, Donna Cimarelli-Sanchez, who wanted the day to be an upbeat day and not a day of sadness. Maren’s mother was present Saturday.

“Donna is a very positive, wonderful human being. Through her own grief she continues to worry about the kids,” Thompson has said of Maren’s mother. “It’s not going to be a sad day; it will be a fun day, a day for kids to smile and to talk about Maren.

“Maren’s mom really wants the community to celebrate everything Maren loved.”

Saturday’s event included: a 5K run, art, music, bands, food trucks, kickball, a bouncy house and fun zone for youths.

“It will be a yearly event to keep Maren’s memory alive,” Thompson has said.

Sanchez was a tennis player at Law, co-manager of the school’s swim and softball teams; she organized the junior class prom, was an honors student, member of the school’s drama club, an avid guitar player and photographer, and she enjoyed singing.

But all of those things don’t do justice to the legacy of love and kindness Maren left behind, according to those who knew her best.

Law students, who were supposed to be celebrating the junior prom on April 25, 2014, decided to memorialize Sanchez that night by attending an impromptu vigil for their classmate at Walnut Beach. In an iconic photo, all of the students wore their prom dresses and gowns and held Sanchez’s prom dress as they posed.

In the days following her death, schools across the state honored Sanchez by wearing her favorite color purple. Students at the University of Connecticut painted a rock in honor of Sanchez. Joseph A. Foran High School students did the same.

Sanchez loved to sing and covered American Idol winner Phillip Phillips hit song “Home.”

Sanchez’s cover of “Home” has more than 120,000 views. Sanchez’s friend, Rachel Escobar wrote a song honoring Sanchez, which includes a photo slideshow of her life, and it has been viewed 12,000 times.

Photos by Rich Scinto