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Thomas Rosenblatt (age 64)
Thomas Rosenblatt, 64, was a children's performer who delighted local audiences for over three decades with his unique brand of puppetry and musical productions. Known primarily for his talents with the vibraphone, Mr. Rosenblatt released over a dozen recordings for children and young adults. He also self-published several "autobiographical" novellas, which detailed Mr. Rosenblatt's prior careers as a pirate, garbage man, astronaut, stable boy, and mystical genie. Mr. Rosenblatt was en route to a bat mitzvah when he was trapped in an emergency quarantine zone. 35 of his beloved puppets survived the quarantine and are currently being sold to private collectors, with proceeds benefiting local area children's hospitals. He is survived by his basset hound, Methuselah.
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Sid Grushka (age 57)
By Remamber editorialSid Grushka was a zeppelin technician for the Everglade Airship Company. He lived a solitary life, occupying the same third floor apartment for more than thirty years. He was known to go to church every Sunday, and to have breakfast at Joey’s on Fourth every weekday. He always had a smile for everybody, the Joeys waitresses fondly recall. Mr. Grushka is one of 17 people ambered inside.
Remamber donations go to Mr. Grushka’s church. -
Kate Sullivan
My sister, Kate Sullivan, ran out to the corner bodega to get milk for cereal one day. It was Kate's job to feed me breakfast and walk me to school when mom was at work. I was eight years old and she was eleven. I loved her more than anyone in the world, even though she sometimes kicked me out of her room. I can still hear the sound of the sirens down the block and the wave of panic I felt, like a physical pain. I took a chair from the kitchen table and waited by the front door to hear her keys jiggling in the doorway, but I never did. My mom came home from work early that day. She kept saying, "Your sister's just teasing. You'll see." Katie was fond of pranks, and running away from home, and torturing my mother. Mom couldn't face the reality. She liked to think, even three days later, that this was just the latest Katie stunt. Finally, I told Mom I saw Katie's name on the list. And that she wasn't coming back. Mom walked into her room and shut the door, and in a way, she never came back. i'm fourteen years old now. I'm doing OK in school and not totally messed up. I still think of Katie every day. Time doesn't heal the wounds like people say, but I like to think of Kate as she was, sweet and sarcastic and smart as a whip. Here's to my sister, my guide and best friend, on the sixth anniversary of her death. I will never forget you.
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Richard O’Neil (age 19)
Richard O’Neil- June 5, 1989 to February 18, 2009. Richard was only 20 years old when he lost his life to amber. Richard, originally from Dallas, Texas, attended the University of Central Florida, where he studied history and animation. He had big plans to get his Ph D and become a history professor. Unfortunately, Richard was studying at the library and found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. He and 5 other students, who could not escape the library in time, all lost their lives to Amber. Richard is remembered by his mother Elaine, father Dwight, sister Sarah, and brother Collin. Richard’s mother visits her son in amber every morning.