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I
met BJ in 3rd grade at St. Joseph / St. Robert's in Warrington. Over the next 10 years of my life he made a profound impact
on me; which I carry to this day. Bj wasn’t much of an athlete, and he was never the best student. His skills and gifts
to the people around him weren’t tangible. He was however, one of the kindest, pure hearted people I have come across
in my life. He always had a smile on his face and could make you laugh without effort. Probably the most recognizable quality
BJ had was his laugh. We used to joke around with him that he laughed exactly like Beavus and Butthead, and he did. When he
laughed you couldn’t help but follow suit. It was contagious and would resonate throughout your soul. No matter how
bad of a day you may have had, or how upset you were; Bj’s laugh was a guaranteed cure. BJ lived everyday as it were
his last and squeezed more enjoyment out of the 17 years he was with us than most do in a lifetime. He left us way to soon
and in the prime of his life. One can always question why God could take such a beautiful person from us and none of us will
ever know the answer to that. What I do know however, is that he inspired a large group of his close friends and family to
do something productive to help as many people as we can in his memory. And we will…….Thank You BJ Feel free to add any funny stories, thoughts,
memories, you may have shared with BJ so we can post them on the site….bjmemorialfund@hotmail.com
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BJ, my angel, my friend All the memories we have Walking
on the beach at sunset Exchanging smiles at one another Never to be lost or forgotten. The laughs we shared, Foolish things we'd say, only understanding each other. The laughs are no more. The tears after the arguments, Now tears only shed from a broken heart. A wonderful, young man, beginning to change, Wanting
to make a difference, Touching so many lives on the way. You left me too soon with only questions to be asked. My mind wanders feeling lost and confused. No
one to talk to, no one to listen. Wishing, hoping for comfort, Needing just one hug. Never
to see your face again, only a picture to hold on to. Wanting to hug you, kiss you, or even hold your hand Unable to. Everyday is a challenge Thinking about you every second. My life has changed forever, An emptiness in my heart
never to be filled. I feel you watching me, I know you're protecting me. My guardian angel, soaring over me with words never spoken. If
only I could talk with you one more time, Then I would be happy
and always know, You are my angel, My friend. 11/1997
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BJ
seemed to grow from this little kid who was attached to your hip, into
a teenager that thought anyone older than him was a little out of touch. BJ had the downstairs bedroom and had it decorated
the way any teenage kid would with a lot of rock posters and stuff from school. Before he would come home, we would re-decorate
his room with album covers of his not so favorite bands like Air Supply, Barry Manilow and maybe Nat King Cole's Christmas
collection Bonanza. Needless to say, that would provide us with a lot of laughs and the inevitable pay-back...
He
was a lot of fun to goof around with and that was how we got along. Whether we were at home or at our weekly Sunday Dinner
Wrestling Matches with full blown wedgie attacks, BJ liked to be right in the middle of the action with his brothers and cousins.
I know I will never forget the short time I got to spend with BJ.
Mark
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A FRIEND LOST
A friend lost, nine years ago, so tragically
To change the lives of all involved so
dramatically
In order to help others, strangers, is so beautiful
With his name attached couldn't be more suitable
A goofy smile and a unique laugh memorialized forever
Thru kindness and generosity, a charitable endeavor
A piece of my heart was lost on that October morning
A young life taken without any warning
To use
that pain and turn it into devotion
For a foundation built on positive emotion
To help this thing grow at
any cost
A friend remembered is never a friend lost
5/1/2006
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Memory
from the Fishing Trip.......... Hours before boarding
the North Star, (the charter boat to accompany the first annual fishing trip), the wind was kicking, the waves were showing
their might, and the temperatures had dropped from the spring like 60’s and delivered a winter like chill that had us
all second guessing the timing of the trip. As we arrived
at the dock, we stocked the boat with food and beverages that twice as many people couldn’t finish, and boarded the
boat for a night of friends, fishing, and fun. Once we pulled away from the dock you could tell that something was about
to change, the weather wasn’t so cold, the wind had calmed, and the sea seemed as smooth as glass. The stars were
crystal clear and there was a comforting glow to the night….it was obvious someone was looking out for us. This trip held a little extra meaning since it was the very same boat that
BJ and his Dad had chartered years before, and now was occupied with friends and family that only someone like BJ could bring
together. The ride out was filled with the laughter
of good friends catching up, anticipation of the night ahead, and an occasional sound of crackling metal indicative only of
beer cans being ripped opened. The night was only beginning. From the second the call was made to “drop the
lines”, all you could hear were the adrenaline laced cries of “FISH ON” coming from all over the boat. By
midnight the boat looked like a war zone as the deck was blanketed with more fish than anyone of us could believe. It
was shaping up to be a fisherman’s fantasy that couldn’t have been duplicated at a fish farm. As the night grew older the fish just kept piling up, the beers kept going
down, and memories of the trip were starting to make a lasting impression. I will never forget the endless piles
of fish littering the boat, the mysterious change in the weather that seemed to only last for our trip, and Tom Long’s
appetite for freshly caught bluefish. BJ, your presence
that night will forever be appreciated in the memories that were made………..thanks for looking out for
us. -Mike
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