Public Works to Replant Flowers from Mazareigo Memorial

Three weeks after the murder of Abelino Mazariego, the memorial that sprung up on the bench in the Promenade where he was allegedly beaten to death by several area teenagers, has disappeared.

Over the course of a 10-day period, Department of Community Services Director Beth Kinney said Public Works crews slowly and respectfully removed dying flowers to keep the memorial looking honorable.

Any non-living items, such as photographs and candles, are in the process of being returned to the victim's widow Julia Celina and her four children.

Councilman Michael Vernotico, who also chairs the Common Council safety committee, said he feels the timing of this decision is appropriate.

"I think what made this special for the family is that the Community reacted to their sorrow in an almost simultaneous expression of grief, he said in an e-mail to Patch. "That time is past and now the family must pick up the pieces of their life and move forward as must the community."

While the cut flowers have since died since the memorial was started on July 21, Chris Holenstein, maintenance and project manager for Public Works, said they are keeping the potted plants alive at the Public Works complex on Chatham Road until they can be replanted at the Promenade.

Holenstein said the Public Works crews are watering the plants in every attempt to keep them alive until they can be replanted.

"I'm glad something permanent will be planted," said resident Terri Tauber, but added she thinks the dismantling of the memorial was too soon.

"I'd hate to think the community is already 'over' this," she said.

Fellow resident Eileen Musum agrees.

"Every evening I made my pilgrimage to that site and prayed for Mr. Mazariego in spite of the fact I never had the pleasure of meeting him," Musum said. "I know the plants were still in a very healthy state as I personally watered them each evening with the water from the falls."

According to Christa Anderson, the city's zoning officer, there is no ordinance that dictates when memorials such as this one are to be removed since such an event is unprecedented.

As for any type of formal memorial, Kinney said that decision has to come from Common Counil, most likely from the Safety Committee.

But Vernotico says any type of formal memorial at the Promenade, he feels, would be inapproproate.

 "It is always good to let some time pass, at least six months, before one should even contemplate what type of memorial should be entertained," Vernotico wrote to Patch in an e-mail. "I don't think a memorial at this site would be appropriate.  Perhaps something like a victim's fund in his name would be better."

Musum feels otherwise.

"I firmly believe the Promenade should be dedicated in his name with his photo and an inscription on it," Musum said. "Let the citizens of Summit give something back to his family."