Amy Padnani, Staten Island Live
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. --- Were it up to Sandy and Robin Brawer, they would have been proudly standing behind their daughter at yesterday’s Tottenville High School graduation, wielding their cameras and waiting for her big smile.
But instead, the parents of the 17-year-old Eltingville resident, who died in November following a car accident as she was heading home from class, were fighting back tears on stage, where they delivered an earnest speech to Janine Brawer’s 900-or-so classmates.
“You are a selfless group, to give up some of the spotlight you so richly deserve,” said her father, Sandy. “Your kindness will never be forgotten.”
In a moving act of condolence, the entire graduating class offered the Brawer family a standing ovation.
“Never forget, one person can change the world,” Sandy Brawer said. “Janine did.”
Behind him, cars stopped at newly installed traffic lights on Luten Avenue and the surrounding area, where students had advocated for improved safety following Janine’s death.
In keeping Janine’s memory alive, her parents have been encouraging people to become organ donors by logging onto donatelife.org. According to her father, Janine already has saved three lives.
The family also honored five students yesterday with Janine Brawer Gift of Life Scholarships totaling $13,000. The winners — Briana Appel, Meaghan Dunigan, John Morisi, Kimberly Smit and Catherine O’Brien — had written creative pieces about the importance of organ donation.
All were offered warm, lingering embraces by Janine’s parents and brothers as they approached the stage for a plaque.
“It was such an overwhelming feeling,” said Miss Appel, 17, of Huguenot, who wrote a song about how organ donation gives people the chance to renew their lives. “It doesn’t matter about the money or the award, I just felt like we did something good for the family for years to come.”
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