Yard Sale Held In Memory of Young Man Who Died in Tragic Accident

SOUTHOLD, NY - Among the dozens of yard sales that dotted the North Fork Saturday, one held very special and deep meaning.

The sale, held at the Southold home of Denyse Whitehead, is a yearly tradition meant to honor her son, Stevan Fickeissen, who died at 22 in 1996 while on his way home from Syracuse University for his beloved sister's wedding.

On Saturday, her eyes filled with tears, Whitehead remembered her son. "He was such a good boy," she said.

Proceeds from the yearly yard sale are donated to Southold High School, for a scholarship given in Stevan's name on awards night each year.

His sister Nancy Mullen and her little girl Lauren also helped out at the sale; they manned a bright yellow lemonade stand.

She and her children were extraordinarily close, Whitehead said: "We were the three musketeers."

Today, grandchildren help to bring joy, she said, but her son will never be forgotten.

This year may have marked 20 years since her son's passing, but the grief is still etched into a mother's heart. "Tell your children you love them every day," she said.