Memorial Gatherings Set For Bucket Brigade Founder Cassandra Vitale

Family and friends of Cassandra Vitale will be gathering Monday afternoon at Windward Beach Park in Brick to remember the young woman whose passion to help her community after Hurricane Sandy launched a full-fledged volunteer organization.

Vitale died July 31 in Florida of a heroin overdose, her family has said. It was just three days after her 29th birthday.

She was a Jersey Shore native, however, who spent much of her life in Beachwood before moving to Florida a few years ago. When Sandy ravaged Ocean County, however, she came back to help, with a personal relief effort spawning the Bucket Brigade, which focused primarily on the northern Ocean County barrier island, Ortley Beach in particular.

Monday afternoon there will be a gathering from 2-8 p.m. at Windward Beach Park, 265 Princeton Ave., Brick. Anyone attending should dress casually, according to posts on the Bucket Brigade’s Facebook page.

There also will be a gathering on the beach in Long Branch on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. at Ocean Place, 1 Ocean Blvd., Long Branch 07740.

Notes of condolence can be sent to 61 London Road, Brick, NJ 08732.

In lieu of flowers, her family has asked for donations to Waves For Water, an organization working to get clean water to every single person who needs it, according to the website. You can get more information or donate by clicking here.