Boy, 7, Finds Nurse's Locket, Lost For Years On Beach

WESTHAMPTON, NY — Joy Schlitz and her family were walking on Pike's Beach in Westhampton Dunes Sunday when her son, Griffin, 7, found a locket with a photo of a smiling family inside.

"He was collecting rocks and shells to paint rainbows on with my other two sons, 9 and 3," she told Patch. The family, who lives in Coram, had decided to take a "nice long drive together" and were walking on the beach when Griffin made his discovery. "He just stumbled upon it in the sand and said he knew it would be 'respectful and nice'" to return the locket, Schlitz said. "He said, 'They need it back.' He's a very sweet boy. He was so excited and determined to find the owner. He knew it was special."

Schlitz posted a photo of the locket on the Westhampton Beach Area Community Forum Facebook page and wrote: "Griff found this today while taking a walk on Pike's Beach in Westhampton. He's hoping by sharing it that it will somehow makes its way to its owner. Please share."

A short time later, someone recognized the smiling faces in the photos as belonging to the Dawydiak family, who live locally, and put Schlitz in contact with them.

Paula Dawydiak wrote to Schlitz immediately. "I lost that a few years ago! I am a nurse at Stony Brook and I can't stop thinking about my family at this time. I would love to get it back if possible."

Speaking with Patch, Dawydiak said the photo was taken of her family just before her oldest daughter Christi moved away to take a job in Boston. "My husband gave it to me as a gift. I lost it several years ago and have always missed it," she said.

And it was found at the perfect time.

Christi, she said, "cannot come home this spring for Easter due to the coronavirus. This is the first holiday of her life that I will not be spending with her. Getting this connection to her and the family is really special. As a nurse working with babies and families, I know that it's especially important for families to support each other at this time."

And, Dawydiak added: "It's great to know that somebody found this, thought that it belongs to a family — and took extra measures to get it back to us."

Schlitz said she's thrilled to send the locket back home where it belongs: "There is a reason why he found this today — and why it's finding its way back to you at this time," she said.