It has been a year ago today, since that extremely tragic and sad day for myself and numerous others, whose lives and dreams were shattered by the brutal action of one deranged human being, who took the lives of many innocent people, in a small, quiet town of Binghamton, New York.
The small town of Binghamton, New York is a very ethnically diverse community. My family and I were also part of it for several years, thus it is very near and dear to my heart. An unbelievable tragedy struck that community, on Friday, April 3, 2009, when a deranged individual, a total coward, brutally took the life of 13 innocent, freedom loving people, at the American Civic Association.
One of the victims, Maria (Mima) Koropey Zobniw, a case worker at that establishment, was a dear friend of mine, and of my family. She was a gentle and loving person, with an ever present smile, kind heart, great listening and understanding skills, and readiness to assist in every possible way. She was an intelligent woman, who was very active in the Binghamton community, and especially the Ukrainian community throughout the US. She touched the lives and hearts of many people, and will be immensely missed by all who knew her.