39.0°,
Fair Lynbrook man victim of fatal PA car crash
Former Chaminade, current SUNY student Sean Finnegan was to graduate in May
Sean V. Finnegan, 21, of Lynbrook, was reportedly one of two victims in a fatal car crash at 12:23 a.m. that occurred last Saturday on Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania.
According to Bloomsburg state police, Finnegan was driving the 1998 Nissan Ultima. His front seat passenger, Paul Richards, 18, of Santa Cruz, Calif. was also killed. Police said another passenger, Stanislav Gomberg, 21, of Ossining, was taken by helicopter to Geisinger Medical Center with massive injuries.
The Nissan crashed into the back of a westbound Freightliner driven by an Ojai, Calif. , man who was not injured.
Finnegan was senior at Stony Brook University on Long Island and was set to graduate on May 21 with a major in psychology and a minor in biology. He was an active member of Alpha Phi Delta fraternity there, and worked with the Campus Ministries Group as a eucharistic minister, lector, folk group, and peer minister.
“Sean wasn’t just my big brother, but my role model, my hero, and my best friend,” said his younger sister, Lisa. “He was the kind of guy that literally everyone liked, and he got along with everyone he met. He had a genuine heart of gold. He was always so laid-back and carefree, despite the fact that he actually cared more than anybody about so many things and so many people. He could always make me smile, and would do seriously anything for me if I just asked him. I miss him so much, and I just can’t believe that a tragedy like this would take away the kind of person that the world really needs right now. I love my brother with all my heart.”
Finnegan graduated from West End Elementary in 1999, North Middle School in 2002, and Chaminade High School in 2006 and was always an honors student, said Lisa. He was a star athlete, especially in track and field and soccer, and he was All-League for High Jump. He recently survived his house off-campus at SBU burning down due to the storm in March.
“I was his first girlfriend and a good friend of his,” said Jacquelyn Meluzio. “Sean was the sweetest guy that I have ever met. His laughter will stay with me forever. He lived his life to the fullest. He will forever be in my heart.”
