Mazariego Family Begins to Cope With Life 1 Year After Murder

For the Mazariego family, the one-year anniversary of the death of their father, their brother, their husband, their friend, doesn't mark the end of the grieving process. It marks the beginning.

"I can’t believe it has already been a year," said Mazariego's son Abelino Jr. "I sometimes wish I had been with him that day so that nothing would have happened. Maybe if there had been two of us we could have defended ourselves better or maybe nobody would have come up to us at all."

The 47-year-old dishwasher at Dabbawalla was in what police say was a robbery gone wrong on the evening of July 17, 2010 in the Summit Promendade where he was eating a slice of pizza and having an alcoholic beverage after work. He died three days later on July 20 at Overlook Hospital. After weeks of investigation, three area teens were on charges of felony murder, first-degree murder and robbery. Two additional juveniles were charged in July with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery and aggravated assault.

But to those who knew him, and especially to his family, Mazariego was more than just a man sitting on a bench one summer night.

"Our lives are unfortunately filled with constant sadness and a feeling
of emptiness," his son Abelino Mazareigo Jr. said. "It is difficult to get up some mornings and go through the day, without thinking of my father and what happened to him. My father worked very hard to get us all here so that we could leave El Salvador where life was very dangerous and difficult financially."

Before coming to America in 2002, Abelino Mazareigo Jr. says he used to make $6 a day planting crops and picking coffee. He now works as a food prep at Cafe Mavi.

"It is so nice to be in Summit and live in a peaceful place where people are nice and where I can work to give my family a better life," he said.

The birth of Abelino Mazareigo Jr. second daughter, Maily Estefany, on July 31, was the first time the family could stop and smile in the wake of Abelino Sr.'s death, his son said.

But Abelino Mazareigo Jr. says his family has also met many wonderful people, such as Celine Benet, Aberto Arciniegas and Isabel Valdes, through this process who have come forward to help in many ways.

"They answer questions and give us hope that things will some day get better and take us to the store or shopping if we need anything," he said.

Abelino Mazareigo Jr. also thanked the General Manager of Dabbawalla Sharon Ferro, where his father worked, and his boss at Cafe Mavi, Oscar, for their continued support over the last year. People even come into Cafe Mavi, Abelino says, to drop off clothes, toys and even a high chair for his children.

"I think we can’t ask for more," he said. "We have been very fortunate with all we have been given."

Despite the daily reminders of their loss, the Mazariegos also receieve frequent updates on the court proceedings against the five teens charged in connection to the death of Abelino Sr. and information on when they need to appear in court as well. 

"I do think that the process is very long and we hope there will be justice," Abelino Mazareigo Jr. said. "We get scared sometimes that they will not go to jail or pay for what they did to my father."

Officials with the Union County Prosecutor's Office said the case is moving along but no trial date has been set.

"I hope people remember that my father was a victim, and was doing
nothing wrong or hurting anyone," Abelino Mazareigo Jr. said. "He was a hard worker, generous, and a good man, especially to his family. My father was a very honest man as well. That is what I hope people that knew him will remember, and I hope this never happens to anyone else here in Summit."

Just as the community has begun to move on with life after one of the most shocking events in the city's history, the family has also begun to put the pieces of its lives back together.

"My daughters are the ones who give me strength to move forward," Abelino Mazareigo Jr. said. "My sister Carolina who had a daughter six months ago also says the same thing. If her daughters were not around she doesn’t know what would have been of her."

Abelino Mazareigo Jr. says he is now taking classes to learn English, partially so he can speak to his two daughters and help them with their homework.

"I hope I am making my father proud wherever he is in heaven," he said. "I hope I am able to give my entire family what my father would have wanted for all of us."

Abelino Mazariego Sr. left behind his wife Celina Moran Mazariego, two sons Jose Gerardo and Abelino Jesus Mazariego, two daughters Carolina Elvira and Rosa Isabel Mazariego, and four granddaughters: Monica Liliana, Maily Esteffany, Dayana Itzel, and Yaslin Ariana.

This interview was conducted and transcribed via a Spanish-speaking translator.