Remembering Adam Vitaterna

In Memory Of Adam Vitaterna

August 27th, 1993-January 5th, 2005

On this web site you will learn everything about our son Adam, why he was so special and spiritual, about his tragedy, our grieving process and what is being done to keep Adam's name and spirit alive forever.

There are so many wonderful things that have happenned and are happening as a result of Adam's death. Adam has touched and continues to have an impact on many lives, and hopefully has saved a few.

As of July 13 ,2008 The Adam Vitaterna Memorial Fund had disbursed $56,049.62 to deserving children in the Niagara Region. The fund covers registration fees for any sport or other activity the child wishes to participate in ,and also cover the purchase of the neccessary equipment.

Thank you to our friends, family and community for your support over the years. We would not have survived without your love, prayers and support. Thank you God and Adam for giving us strength.

Thank You to Sun Village Resorts and The Elliott Foundation for raising the money and implementing the safety improvements at the Damajagua Waterfalls. Joe Kennedy, grandson of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, spearheaded the safety program and the Elliott Foundation raised the money that was needed for life jackets and helmets. See the Damajagua Waterfalls Page.

Here are some of our favorite pictures of Adam.

NEWS !

On April 14 the Mathew Daniele and Adam Vitaterna memorial funds presented a cheque to the Lions Club at City of Niagara Falls council in the amount of $16,000 of which $10,000 came from the profits of the Dove Book sales. This money will be put towards a gazebo at the park including picnic tables.

Click on link below to see our presentation on City council. below video clip click on Lions Park Redvelopement which will automatically take you to the presentation.

http://wm.yourniagara.ca/index.asp?municipality=m_niagara_falls&file=april_14_2008

Danieles, Vitaternas donate gazebo to new Lions Park
By Robert Lapensée

Niagara Falls

May 23, 2008

The families of two young boys whose lives were tragically cut short have contributed $16,000 to the redevelopment of the park behind the Niagara Falls Lions Club hall on Drummond Road.
Mike and Bruna Daniele and Andrew and Marlena Vitaterna have given $10,000 to city hall to build a gazebo at the new Lions park. The money comes from proceeds of a book, The Dove Book: Healing Through the Eyes of a Child, which was written by members of both families in memory of the two boys, Matthew Daniele and Adam Vitaterna. The families will spend another $3,000 each from their sons' memorial funds for four fully accessible picnic tables for the park.
"It will be nice to go there and sit under the gazebo and have lunch," said Mike Daniele, who brought up the idea of donating to the park after reading about the Lions Club Project in Niagara This Week. There was no hesitation in supporting the Lions, he said.
"It will be a nice memory of our boys."
Adam Vitaterna was 11 years old when he drowned while on a swimming tour of a cluster of waterfalls during a family vacation in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, in January 2005. Matthew Daniele was 10 when he lost a sudden bout with pneumonia about seven years ago.
The book, published about one year ago, was written by Sylvana Vitaterna, Maria Solomom and Donna Mannella. The book was illustrated by Peter Vitaterna.
Using space from the former day-care centre and the old ice skating rink, the Lions will transform the park with new amenities like fully accessible playground equipment similar to that at the MacBain Community Centre in the city's south end on Montrose Road. It will feature braille and sign language play panels and a wheelchair accessible rubberized surface.
The Lions will replace its old wading pool with a new splash pad that is also wheelchair accessible. The new park will also include an amphitheater with natural stone seating, picnic area with gazebo and a memorial walking trail with trees, benches and stones recognizing donors.
The Lions Club will contribute $10,000 to the capital project over the next 15 years.