Saturday, December 19, 2009

NORTHAMPTON - Easthampton resident Julie Chandler gives to the Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund in honor of a brother who died in a car crash in the 1970s, but also, she said, because of the years she received help from the fund.

The Gazette-sponsored Toy Fund, which provides vouchers for local families in need to purchase gifts for their children at the holidays, helped Chandler buy gifts for several foster children in her care.

"It's me paying it forward," Chandler said of her recent donations to the fund. "I just want kids to be able to have a little bit."

Last year, and again this year, she sent along a check to the Gazette, along with a note reading, "In memory of my brother, Stephen B. Chandler, who loved Christmas, from his little sis, Julie."

In an interview this month at her Meadowbrook Drive home, Chandler, 44, said she wishes she could remember more about her brother, whom she looked up to as any little sister would.

"I was only 9," Chandler said of when her brother died in the summer of 1974 at the age of 18 in a crash on Route 66 in Florence. "I was so young."

Chandler finds the donation is a tangible way to remember Stephen.

"He didn't get to have a lot of Christmases," Chandler said. "He was still a kid."

Chandler, a care manager for Highland Valley Elder Services, still carries with her a vivid memory of her brother's funeral procession, recalling many residents looking out their doors and windows as the cars rolled past.

She remembers her brother being a popular teen who had a girlfriend and loved the holidays. In addition to his love of Christmas, she remembers other things about her only sibling: a rebellious teenager, he liked music and nice cars, and had recently dropped out of high school.

Stephen Chandler died after being ejected from a car that was driven by a drunk friend, Chandler said. And she's used that tragic lesson to teach others.

She said she warns young relatives about the dangers of drunken driving and has also given her cell phone number to cousins who are teenagers and in their early 20s, instructing them call her for a ride at any time of night or day if they have been drinking.

"I'm not going to yell at you," Chandler said she tells them.

"That doesn't mean we're not going to talk about it the next day," she added.

Her son, Eric, 12, has also heard the story about his uncle and how he died, as she struggles to infuse meaning into the tale of someone who died much too young.

Today's donors

From Sasha   $100

God bless children at Christmas, Judith, Enace & Rob Lococo   $100

In memory of our mother, Dorothy Custeau, who made our Christmas magical from the three daughters, Nancy Wilson, Cynthia Custeau, Carrie Kusza   $500

For all the children from Gramma O'Leary of Sunderland, Brian, Jarrius, Annette & Patrick O'Leary of Watertown, N.Y.   $20

In loving memory of John Kendrew from his family   $50

In memory of Tim, from Lois & Denny McKeering of Hartland, Maine   $25

In memory of Marie & Fran & Tim Diemand from Paul Diemand   $25

In memory of Tim Diemand from staff at Whalen's   $100

Robert Rice   $25

Indira Peterson   $20

Francis & Lucille Barbour   $50

Merry Christmas from Don & Dee Jepson   $25

In memory of our grandmother, Cynthia Mary Hargraves Grimaldi who always made our Christmas special. We miss you, Julia & Rebecca Masotti and John and Nicholas Grimaldi   $50

In memory of those who passed this year, Rita Benson, Dolores Samms, Bernie Butler, Ed Lively, Dave O'Donnell from McCaye Santos   $25

In appreciation of our grandchildren, Jason, Ryan, Shaunna, Madison, Adam & Sofia Lizek, Love Babci & Dziadziu   $50

In memory of Mr. & Mrs. Havelock Purseglove, Neale Purseglove and Stanley J. Sawicki from Nancy Sawicki   $10

In memory of our two sons, Charles E. Kott Jr., Edward R.(Bundy) Kott, love Mom & Dad   $100

Anonymous   $10

In memory of my cousin Charles Wan, of 25 Orchard St., Northampton from John G. Tenczar   $100

In memory of Charles & Irene Gibbons from Cathleen & Leslie Burnett   $25

Virginia & Edward Merriam   $20

Amy & William Hogan III   $25

Bruce & Barbara Christenson   $50

Anonymous    $25

In memory of Adam Washburn from Sheila & Dick   $100

In memory of loved ones by the employees of the Florence Casket Company   $1,025

In loving memory of our Ackoo, missing you every day, love Dan, Deb, Briana & Brett   $25

In loving memory of our Jaju missing you every day, love Dan, Deb, Brianna & Brett   $25

In remembrance of Jeanne Brzezinski, Albert Omasta and Earl Joiner from Grant Joiner and Travis Omasta   $49.35

In loving memory of Helen & William Bergmann,    $50

In honor of the Trail Wobblers from Kathleen Wellspring   $25

In loving honor of "Grandpa" Bill Donovan and "Poppy" Robert Kay from Nora and Natalie Kaye   $35

Dedicated to Patty Bruso, Michelle George, and all the staff at the Maple Street Preschool Program in Easthampton from Andrew Foster   $25

From the Kristek family, with deep gratitude and love for all our friends and family   $270

In memory of our cherished son Jarrod Weston, with never ending love from Mom and Dad   $50

In loving memory of Jack and Libby Wentzell, who taught me the gift of giving from Julianne Kinsman   $50

Previous total   $39,415.25

Today's total   $3,259.35

Year-to-date   $42,674.60