by Cris Italia
The way his mother describes it, seven years ago Zaccaria drove his jet ski into a fog on the Hampton Shores and he was never seen again. Deserie Nadler has thought about her son every day, he was just 29-years-old when he passed on August 6, 1995 and had everything going for him. "He was my life and every since then I have done everything I could to keep his memory alive," Nadler said.
Just months after his death Nadler bought a piece of land on Park Avenue in Oceanside and with the Town of Hempstead's permission she designed and created a memorial garden in the name of her son. "It was the least I could do and I thought it would be a great way for me to remember him, and for residents in the neighborhood enjoy something so beautiful."
The garden rests directly across from Wrights baseball field and on top of Bedell's Creek which separates the field from Park Avenue. "On days where there is a game you can just sit here and enjoy the view," Nadler said.
With every birthday and anniversary of Zaccaria's death that passes, his mother adds an artifact to the garden. The sculptures are mostly angels or scroll's with inspirational messages. Neighbors have taken advantage of the beauty and tranquillity of the garden, until recently.
"This summer I was away a lot, but I noticed that there was more and more damage to the garden each time," Nadler said fighting back tears. "I don't know who would do such a thing, especially if they knew what the garden stands for."
The damage to the garden has become more severe with each week that passes. She noticed a gathering some nights. "There were some people drinking beers, and making a little noise, but I didn't think too much of it," Nadler recalls. Eventually she found empty bags of drugs. In addition the wooden posts to the railing were kicked out.
Just recently Nadler couldn't bare what she had witnessed. "I was leaving one morning and I always slow down by the garden and this time I noticed some of the statues were gone. I didn't understand who would steal a statue from a memorial garden?"
At first Nadler thought the statues were pushed into the water, but there was no remains of the statue or traces that the angel was pushed. Along with the missing statue, plants were overturned and garbage was left at the garden.
"I never chased anyone away from here, I always thought this was a place for residents in the area, including children to relax and breathe in the fresh air," she said.
Nadler says she is not going to point fingers or make accusations, but does want those who did commit the crime to know, "they went to the root of my heart." The garden over the years has become more and more a piece of her son.
"I come here several times a day, just to think of him and feel better about myself, but now it's different, I don't want to trust anyone that sits here," Nadler said.
Nassau County Police Officers suggested that the memorial garden be closed from dawn to dusk so that trespassers can be arrested. "That's what I have done now, I didn't want to, but these people can't treat me or my son with respect."
The death of Zaccaria was tragic both to family and friends, the memorial garden represents a piece of the fun loving man, one last tribute to someone they loved. Nadler offered these parting shots to the vandals, "I hope what they did and having that statue makes them feel like crap, because I don't know what good it can do for them."
