Donna Prozeralik told a story Monday night about 8-year-old Vincent Anastasi that seemed to speak for everyone who turned out for a fundraiser for Vincent’s family at a Chick-fil-A on Dobbin Road, in Columbia.

Prozeralik is an instructional assistant at Deep Run Elementary School, where Vincent went to school. She recalled an after-school program in which everyone was having an ice cream sundae and one girl had to go home without one. Vincent, she said, asked her specifically to save the girl some ice cream with tears in his eyes.

“He was my little helper, every single day,” she said. “He’s just left a hole in my heart.”

Vincent was killed on June 6 when he drove a scooter into traffic and collided with a van in his Elkridge neighborhood. At Monday's fundraiser, family members talked about trying to cope with Vincent's death.

Vincent's uncle, Robert Shaulis, 41, of Berwyn Heights, said a close-knit family has been devastated.

“With a child, it just tears such a huge empty space in the middle of the whole family,” he said. “He (Vincent) showed up, and he was so bright he just lit up the room.”

Vincent's grandmother, Helen Anastasi, of Berwyn Heights, said Vincent's father and mother couldn't attend the fundraiser because they were so low emotionally.

“They’re just devastated,” she said. She said Vincent was very close to his parents, and often like a shadow to his father, Anthony. “Everywhere my son went, he would go,” she said.

She remembered a boy who liked skateboarding, riding his bike and swimming. “He was a very giving, happy child,” she said.

She was grateful to the community for its support, financially and emotionally. “The whole community up there has been just wonderful,” she said.

County Council member Calvin Ball, a Columbia Democrat, paid for the county council’s dinner Monday night through Chick-fil-A with part of the proceeds going to Vincent’s family.

“My heart was heavy for the family and especially in these challenging times we need to come together as a community and I tried to do my part,” he said.

Amy Lamke, an organizer of the Chick-fil-A event through People Acting Together in Howard, a nonprofit advocacy group for lower-income county residents, said $450 was raised, with between 300 and 400 people turning out.

“There was just a tremendous outpouring of support from the community,” she said.

Monday's event followed a funeral Mass on Saturday. Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in College Park was packed with friends and family.

The Rev. George A. Wilkinson, Jr. told mourners that Vincent was a young boy who loved his parakeet, warmed his family with an infectious smile, and loved cheeseburgers and macaroni and cheese.

His love for his parakeet revealed a warm-hearted boy, Wilkinson said.

“If you are nice to animals you will be nice to one another,” Wilkinson said.

He also said that because Vincent was a fan of Harley Davidson motorcycles he was probably currently “tearing up the clouds of heaven” on a Harley.

Mourners were visibly moved after communion was given in the Roman Catholic funeral Mass, with one woman in tears having to be helped back to her seat.

Wilkinson urged mourners to look to God’s mercy in the time of tragedy, because, he said, “God’s mercy is never used up.

“That seems hard to talk about when we have this terrible tragedy,” he said.

Police said the collision that took Vincent's life occurred in front of 6732 Deep Run Parkway, in Elkridge, at about 3:05 p.m. on June 6. The driver of a Dodge Caravan was traveling eastbound on Deep Run Parkway when the boy darted into traffic on a motorized scooter and struck the front of the Caravan, police said.

Vincent was taken to Howard County General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

The operator of the Caravan, who was uninjured in the collision, was identified as Katharin Jones, 41, of Pasadena.

The accident is still being investigated but police said that, preliminarily, they had found no evidence of error on Jones’ part.

The Anastasi family did not return calls seeking comment.

On Monday, June 8, Cynthia Hankin, principal at Deep Run Elementary, said the school community was still in mourning when students and staff returned to school.

“The staff is absolutely heartbroken for the family,” Hankin said. “Our first goal is to provide support for students, staff and Vincent’s family. Anything they ask of us, we’ll be happy to oblige.”

Hankin said several teachers had contributed to a dinner cooked for Vincent’s family over the previous weekend and that the families of the boy’s classmates had helped build a memorial near the site of the accident.

Family and friends interviewed at the memorial said they had collected more than $2,000 in donations to help the family.

This article has been updated.

Staff writer Dan Schwind and staff photographer Nicole Martyn contributed to this report.

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user comments (4)

user kevmom05 says...

I can't imagine the pain his parents, family, friends and teachers are feeling. My heart goes out to all of them.

Posted 4:35 PM, 06.08.09 | Permalink

user laxman22397 says...

Just to think about it hurts me. He was my friend....i played with him all the time and now to think that he is gone it is just a sad feeling i get and i can barely think about it or talk about it!

Posted 7:08 PM, 06.08.09 | Permalink

user says...

First may I say my thoughts and prayers go out to Vincent's family. My son was very close to Vincent they both attend the same school and was in the same class. Vincent has came to my house a few times and he was a pleasure to have around, him and my son both 110% boys. In school where one was the other was not fair behind. So to tell my son that he had lost his best friend broke my heart. Especially when the only thing Vincent was doing, is what all a 8 year old boys enjoy doing. We are working the best we can through this, it has been hard on everyone trying to understand this horriable accident. What I would really like to make a comment on is the articles that have been written on this accident. All the articles or news story's keep saying Vincent "darted or drove" into the street. They are suggesting Vincent didn't look before going out into the street. What the articles are not stating is that this accident happened on a crest of a hill. It is very very much possible Vincent did look before he went into that street and the van would not have been able to be seen if it was coming up the hill. You know as a parent I always tell my children to look both ways before crossing the street, I have never thought to tell them about crossing on hills. I tried to remember growing up if this was mentioned I can't remember a time that it was. It was always look both ways before crossing a street. I feel the articles should mention all aspects of the accident. If anything for the sake of the family, anyone that new Vincent new he was all boy but not a reckless boy. My sister-n-law lives in Deep Run Park she told me Vincent was one of the kids that always made sure the younger kids always stayed on the curb. Once again I'm very sorry for the families loss. He will always be remembered.

Posted 12:21 PM, 06.10.09 | Permalink

user amylou1238 says...

There will be a fundraiser at Chick-fil-a resturant at 6375 Dobbin Rd (near Walmart) Columbia, Md on Monday June 15th from 5-9 pm to help support donations for the family of Vincent Anastasi, a local 7 year old boy who was struck and killed by a car on Saturday June 6th in the community of Deep Run. Fliers are available at the Deep Run Park office, as well as, Deep Run Elementary school, Mayfield Woods Middle school, Long Reach High school, or you can contact Amy Lamke thru facebook for a copy of the flier. YOU MUST BRING A FLIER WITH YOU OR THE FAMILY WILL NOT GET CREDIT FOR THE DONATION !!! Please come out to show your support and help this family get thru this most difficult time. Thank you.

Posted 12:25 PM, 06.10.09 | Permalink