Growing Up Here…and a Profoundly Sad Loss

By Grace Bennett

Inside Chappaqua is honored to dedicate this issue about growing up here to Evan Lieberman and to his happy and well lived life. Evan was home from his freshman year at the University of Connecticut and had been on his way to work with three other Chappaqua teens to a summer construction job in Brewster. Evan lost his life after a 32-day courageous struggle to survive.  The three other teens all  sustained different injuries from the car accident and are continuing to recover both physically and emotionally. Inside Chappaqua and the Liebermans, and the community at large, wish all these boys and their families much love, comfort and full  recoveries.

On July 20, the community poured out in unprecedented numbers at Temple Shaaray Tefila in Bedford to honor Evan and to share their love and support.

The service gave attendees a glimpse into a vibrant, fun, funny, kind, affectionate and talented young man. For this column, the Liebermans shared with me their gratitude to all the friends, family and neighbors who have lent a hand and a shoulder to cry on, to Rabbi David Greenberg and to their neighbors and best friends Bill and Jill Madden, both of whom who shared loving stories about Evan at the service. They are also deeply grateful and indebted to Dr. Francis Baccay and all the health care professionals at  the Westchester Medical Center Trauma Intensive Care Unit and at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital who cared for Evan. The Liebermans themselves, by all accounts, have been a portrait in courage in the face of every parent’s worst nightmare.

IC was busy preparing a special issue produced by teens about teens when this tragedy struck and approached the Liebermans with the idea for this tribute.  — Grace

P.S. A special thank you right back (and you’re welcome!) to my “freshmen dozen,” and in particular to my gracious and brilliant guest editor Lindsay Hand, all of whom jumped on board this past spring to produce a “Growing Up Here” back to school issue. Thank you too to Debra Hand, Lindsay’s mom, who acted as an advisor and consulting editor on the issue as well.