Kids see free show courtesy of couple honouring their son; Adam Vitaterna died while on holiday in 2005

Posted By TONY RICCIUTO

Posted 2 hours ago

When Andrew and Marilena Vitaterna lost their son, Adam, in a drowning accident nearly three years ago, the Niagara Falls community came to their support.

On Wednesday, the family showed just how much that meant to them by purchasing more than 200 tickets for Beauty and the Beast so students from St. Patrick's School could attend the show for free.

Adam Vitaterna died Jan. 5, 2005, while on vacation with his family in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. While on a tour at the Damajagua water falls, he was sucked under the water. It took more than 10 minutes for help to reach him.

A fundraiser is held each year for the Adam Vitaterna Memorial Fund and the money is used to assist deserving children in Niagara by paying for their registrations in a sport or activity.

School principal Susan Boychuck said a letter was sent to parents in early November advising them the Vitaterna family had offered to pay the students' admission to the show.

"It made me very happy to walk in and see this place jam-packed," said Andrew Vitaterna, just before sitting down with his wife to watch the show at the Niagara Centre for the Arts on Epworth Circle. "Our fund is all about helping children. When we heard that some of them might not be able to make it, we decided to just go for it and help out the whole school," he added.

Marilena said it was "amazing how people rally around you in your time of need. This was a deserving way to give back to our community through the memory of our son."

Theresa Wiggins, who has two children attending the school, said she had already paid for her tickets. She was surprised when the money was returned and everyone was allowed to attend free.

"It was really nice for the family to do that, especially right around Christmastime, when people can use the help. I'm more excited than the kids, I'm looking forward to the show."

Grade 8 student Zackary Zabor said it was great to see a live show rather than just watching a movie.

"I liked the dancing and seeing everyone being thrown up in the air. I don't know how they are able to dance in those costumes, it must be hard to do."

Another student, Bradley Lund, was impressed by the singing and music.

"They've put a lot of time into something like this," he said.

Student Demi Palmer said she jumped during the show when she saw the dresser move and realized it was a person.

"It was cool. Especially when the girl went into his room and the Beast came out. And when the dad was put in the dungeon it almost made me cry."