LETTER: Todd Vogel Remembered as Kind Family Friend

My name is Tina-marie Papadopoulos, and I wanted to share with you

In 1986, my mom's youngest brother, Christopher James Coakley, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He was seventeen and I was sixteen. 

Todd Vogel was also one of his best friends. They attended Tri-County Regional Vocational school together. Class of 1986.

Todd was there every day to drive Christopher where he needed to be, he would take me and my little sister "out for some fresh air".

In the end, when many people couldn't stand to see him so sick, Todd was one of the guys that would just sit by Christopher and listen to ZZ Top, each knowing that it wouldn't be long...but no words were necessary. 

Todd and the other five boys that were "the group" were so young to deal with such sickness--too young, but they never failed to show up.  Every day. They were our angels.

My Uncle died at seventeen, in June of 1986, surrounded by love and knowing that he had true friends.

After Christopher's death, Todd would stop in to check on my Grandmother. He would stop in and check on my parents as well.

I know it was not easy to bury one of his best friends at such a young age, but I can tell you, the bravery and selflessness that Todd showed towards Christopher is something that I believe to be quite rare at any age. I will never forget it. I will never forget any of those boys. They were special.

I don't know what has transpired in his life over the years. He moved on, as did we. I do believe that a person with that much goodness does not change in his core. 

To me, after the initial shock and tears, I have come to believe that this must have been a terrible accident. 

I only wish that I could have been there to help him at his time of need, as he was there to help my family. 

God bless his parents, and the family of his wife. My heart aches for them.
Thank you,

Tina-marie Papadopoulos