'True, Endless Love': Long Island Mom Remembers Son, Girlfriend Killed In Crash

FARMINGDALE, NY — Sam Cullen had everything planned.

The 28-year-old was going to propose to his Farmingdale High School sweetheart, Suzie Kedar, 27, on June 1. They were going to see Sam's beloved New York Mets play the Seattle Mariners in Seattle in August — the couple resided in Washington state. The two planned on starting a family together.

Cullen and Kedar's plans were tragically cut short on May 2 when they died in a crash on their way to Ebey's Landing, a nature preserve.

"I don’t want to quote 'The Princess Bride,' but true love," said Sam's mother, Shari, describing Sam and Suzie's relationship. "True, endless love. I don’t know for sure, but I want to say that Sam was Suzie’s first and only boyfriend, love and world. I know that Sam treated Suzie like his queen. She was his queen."

Cullen spoke with both his parents often, Shari said.

"The last time I heard his voice was on my birthday on April 29," she told Patch. "He sent me pictures of the ring the next day."

Kedar is survived by her mother, Shama Kedar, and her three sisters, Simy, Varsha (Bharat), and Shivanie (Don).

Cullen is survived by his parents Shari and Tim Cullen, and his siblings, Suzanne (Greg), Hayden (Paulina), Timothy (Samara), Emma, and Gabby.

Cullen, a U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class, was stationed in Whidbey Island, Washington, where he resided with Kedar. Cullen was a two-time All County wrestler who was attracted to Kedar, the Farmingdale wrestling team's student manager. Cullen graduated Farmingdale High School in 2014, while Kedar followed a year later.

Cullen went to Oswego State and joined the wrestling team there. Two years later, he realized school was not for him and decided to join the Navy, Shari said.

"He was a very physical person," Shari said. "He loved the challenge. He wanted to be the best at everything, and he was. He was always at the top of all the physical challenges in the recruitment center and training boot camp."

After boot camp, Cullen and Kedar moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where he was stationed. Cullen was deployed for nine months on the USS Delbert D. Black. He returned in April 2023 before relocating with Kedar to Whidbey Island.

They made the most of their cross-country road trips, Shari said, stopping and enjoying the states they passed through. The pair experienced local cultures in Louisiana and Tennessee, and stopped at their uncle’s house in Colorado, where they spent a few days with family.

Shari said she has gotten emails from around the world from people who met Cullen and Kedar. Kedar's workplace, friends from Jacksonville, schoolmates in San Diego, fellow boot camp trainees, and Navy sailors stationed in Japan all sent condolences to the family.

"I knew Sam and Suzie touched so many people, and this is a testament to that," Shari said. "No matter where they were, no matter where they went, they left a lasting impression."

A GoFundMe was set up to transport Kedar's body home. The fundraiser has exceeded its goal of $30K, as more than $50K has been raised for the family since Saturday. The Navy will ensure the respectful return of Cullen to his family.

Kedar is expected to be returned to her family "very soon," Shari said. She is still working with the Navy to arrange for her son's return so the families can finalize service details.

Those looking to attend the service or send well wishes were asked to reach out to Sam's cousin, Haley Paige, on Facebook.

People can donate to the GoFundMe here.

Funds raised that exceed the costs of Kedar's transport, the funeral and burial may be used for a trip to Seattle so the family can visit Cullen and Kedar's home and take care of what needs to be done there.

"We would love to have a bench at the site put up in their memory so that it provides a space for us to go back and visit them," Shari said.

All funds raised will be put to good use in the couple's memory.

The Cullen family is considering starting a charity to support the Farmingdale High School wrestling team. Before the crash, the family provided scholarships to wrestlers. The family would like to do that for Dalers, even if it's separate from the GoFundMe.

"I don’t know what Suzie’s family’s wishes are with that," Shari said. "I do know that we discussed, my husband and myself, doing this in Sam’s memory. Obviously there’s so much going on right now in our minds. These thoughts we have, we’re writing them down, so when the dust settles and we’re ready to revisit everything, we’re going to go back and remember all this stuff. I know my family will put a garden in my yard. We’re going to call it Sam’s Way. This way we have a place to sit and ponder here for him."

Shari said her son was a "family man at heart." He and his bride-to-be both participated in the extended family's daily Wordle challenges.

"Sam was so funny with that. We joked around every day in that Wordle chat."

Shari was proud of her son for rising up the ranks in the Navy. She expressed how important it was that people know how much Cullen loved the New York Mets.

"He would wear his Mets jersey to every Seattle Mariners game, no matter who they’re playing," she said. "He was going to attend [in August] and be so happy."

She said one thing her son would want is if the Mets could give a shout out to Sam and Suzie.

A Navy member contacted Shari and told her that Sam was what they called a "hard-charger, a go-getter and a do'er." None of that surprised Shari, who said her son was someone people would go to when they needed something done.

"He was always like that in my family. Whatever I needed done, I could just tell him and he would do it. Whatever he put his mind to, he would have done. I know [he and Kedar] wanted a family. They just would have been the best couple, parents."

Cullen's twin is expecting a daughter in August.

"I’m just so sorry he never got to meet her," Shari said.

Kedar's sister had a daughter a few days before the crash.

"I know it’s heart wrenching that their daughter never got to meet Suzie and Sam," Shari said.

Shari said that while the Cullen and Kedar families come from "two totally different cultures," they have embraced one another with open arms — even before the tragedy.

"It was accepting. Now we’ve become one big family."

Shari said she has her moments. Mornings and going to sleep are the hardest times for her, but she said she and her husband, Tim, "have to be strong" for their five other children.

"My husband and I need to be the strength for them. We’re trying to be as strong as we can for them. But it comes in waves. It’s a gut punch."