Date: Fri 01-Oct-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: JEFF

Quick Words:

Stephen-Mazuroski-fatal-crash

Full Text:

Loved Ones Remember Stephen Mazuroski

BY JEFF WHITE

Stephen was always a teacher of life; he needed no degree," Brennan Fraczek

told the family and friends that crowded into St Rose Church Monday to say

goodbye to his best friend, 24-year-old Stephen Mazuroski, who was killed in

an automobile accident during the early hours of last Friday morning.

A star football player for both Newtown High School and Siena College in

Londonville, New York, friends that morning remembered Stephen for what he

excelled in the most: humanity.

Jeremy Farrington, a teammate at Siena, recalled how Stephen took him in

during his freshman year when he was having roommate trouble. "He was like a

brother. He'd organize Monday night football and wings, Friday night movies

before games. He wanted everyone to be involved," Mr Farrington said.

Born in South Charleston, West Virginia, Stephen Mazuroski, or Maz as his

friends fondly called him, help lead the NHS football team to an undefeated

season and the state Class MM championship his senior year, when he was a

tri-captain.

But besides athletics, Mr Mazuroski also excelled musically, playing the big

baritone sax in the high school's band.

"He was the perfect, all American boy; one of the most polite young men to go

through this high school," Principal Bill Manfredonia recalled. "He had such

talent and confidence, but I always admired his tremendous sense of modesty."

At Siena College, Stephen continued with his football on the school's varsity

team, while focusing much of his academic talents on accounting, in which he

eventually earned a bachelor's degree in 1997.

He was employed as an accountant by the firm Berkow, Schechter & Co of

Stamford.

At 1:28 am, September 25, the car Stephen Mazuroski was riding in lost control

in the area of Toddy Hill and Button Shop Roads. The Jeep Grand Cherokee

struck the embankment on the north bound shoulder, causing the vehicle to roll

over, coming to rest against a tree. Stephen Mazuroski, in the back right

passenger's seat, was killed.

The driver, Brennan Fraczek of Old Town Road, and the front seat passenger,

Casey Trocolla of Old Gate Lane, were taken to Danbury Hospital, where they

were treated for serious injuries, police report.

Loved ones struggled to make sense of the tragedy Monday morning, but the

moods of those gathering to pay respects could not help brightening slightly

when memories of Maz came to mind.

In an emotional remembrance, former NHS football head coach Bob Zito recounted

the first time he saw #73, when one of his line coaches came up to him and

claimed that Maz just might be a football player. "He would always pop into

the office and say `have a good night' after practice," Mr Zito said.

Outside the church, high school and college classmates gathered and thought

about Mr Mazuroski's smile, his calling card.

"He always walked into the room with a smile," Mike Butler, his college

roommate since freshman year, recalled. "Just Maz's presence brought everyone

up."

"Any memory when you think of Maz brings a smile to your face," added Katie

Grilli, a close friend since his sophomore year.

Siena football teammate Pat Stanton remembered a young man whose leadership

qualities were manifested on and off the playing field. "He was such a good

leader and motivator. He led by example. I loved him like a brother."

"Everything he did he did with tremendous joy," another teammate added.

One of Stephen's high school classmates, Dave Foss, recalled a high school

band trip to Europe during their senior year, and a group that both were a

part of that followed and supported the girls' basketball team.

"He was a friend to everyone," another NHS classmate, Michele Labrecque, said.

Wednesday afternoon, Nancy Fraczek, mother of Brennan, remembered her son's

best friend. "We have known Stephen since he was a little boy and have loved

him like a son. We are grieving along with the Mazuroski family at this most

difficult time."

After the service, Stephen's body was taken to New Jersey, where most of his

family lives, and buried at St Stanislaus Cemetery in Sayreville. Michael and

Natalie Mazuroski, his parents, and Robert, his brother, live on John Beach

Road in Newtown.

Outside St Rose Monday morning, Stephen Mazuroski's legacy was evident in the

faces of friends and family, who will try each day to smile as he did.

"If I had a kid and I wanted him to grow up like something," Siena teammate

Jeremy Farrington said, "I would want him to be like Maz."