'She Was A Little Daddy's Girl': Heartbroken Father Remembers Amber Rae, On Her 17th Birthday

GREENPORT, NY — It has been six years since Amber Stulsky, just 10 years old, died in 2019 in a horrific Greenport crash. She had been out shopping for school supplies with her mother, on the eve before the first day of school, when tragedy struck.

The scene of that crash still cloaks the North Fork community in grief; a cross with flowers still marks the site where Amber lost her life.

Memories echo.

On December 3, the day that would have been Amber's 17th birthday, her family and the many who loved her, celebrated her short and beautiful life.

Amber's father Jason Stulsky posted a message on social media: "Thank you, everybody, for remembering my daughter Amber Rae Stulsky. I appreciate you guys donating. I wish she was still here. I always hear her in my head, saying, 'Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!' She was a little Daddy's girl."

And, said her aunt Amanda Stulsky, "I still miss her as much as ever and I admire my brother's strength."

Amanda and Jason — who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being struck by an SUV soon after his daughter's death — posted videos and photos of the birthday celebration they held for Amber Wednesday. Photos of the cake, with pink frosting. The candles. Videos of the "Happy Birthday" song. The photos of Amber, her bright smile beaming. All of it, infused with so much love and heartbreak, for all that will never be.

And on the North Fork, just as she has every year, Erin Bednoski carried on her forever mission of ensuring that Amber's memory is celebrated with acts of giving.

"This year we are collecting items for North Fork Animal Shelter," she wrote on Facebook. "We pledge 17 blankets, 17 towels, 17 bags of cat and 17 bags of dog food and maybe some treats. I know y'all have old blankets and towels kicking around in your closets. Let’s check the attics, basements and linen closets for those blankets and towels you no longer use. Help us make Amber’s heavenly 17th birthday a memorable one for our local animals in the shelter."

For those wishing to arrange a pickup or delivery option for the items, message Bednoski here.

Donations are being accepted through Friday.

In past years, Bednoski has organized collections of items to help those in need — always collecting the number of items equal to the age that Amber would have been, that year. Those drives have included a collection of sleeping bags for the homeless; she's also organized a coat drive and other initiatives.

"I'm just happy to help keep her memory alive," Bednoski said. Her daughter Abbi and Amber were close friends. "I promised Abbi she would not be forgotten."

Amber was killed just hours before she would have been starting fifth grade.

In past interviews, Bednoski said Amber had been her daughter Abbi's friend for two years. "She was a sweet kid. Soft-spoken. She didn’t ask for much; she loved the simple things. She always loved to have fun, and she loved nature," Bednoski said.

Amber, Bednoski said, spent time at her house with Abbi and her other two girls, making memories at sleepovers, swimming, riding Hoverboards, and spending days at Splish Splash.

Abbi used to stay in during recess to help her with her math, Bednoski said. "I hope you're dancing in the sky," Bednoski has said, remembering Amber.

"I'll never stop celebrating you," Amber's aunt Amanda wrote.