Day for fun is remembrance of young family

August 12, 2010 at 12:06a.m.

More than an afternoon of entertainment and giveaways, Girard event is a memorial to a young mother and her two sons

By Linda M. LINONIS

girard

Family Fun Day offers an afternoon of kid-oriented entertainment, food and school supplies giveaway. But it also serves as a day to remember a young family.

The event is planned Aug. 28 at Tod Park.

Cindy Michael of Warren organized Family Fun Day in remembrance of Lena Cross, who was stabbed to death Sept. 12, 2005, in her duplex at 413 Dearborn St., Girard. The person who killed Cross, who was 22 years old at the time, set fire to the house, and her two sons, Mason Cross, 5, and Christian Pizzulo, 2, died of smoke inhalation.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the murders. The case remains open; no one has been charged. Karen Booth of Niles is Lena Cross’ mother.

“I wanted to do something positive in their memory,” said Michael, whose son, Joe Pizzulo, was engaged to Cross at the time of her death. “I didn’t want them to only be remembered as kids who were murdered.”

That’s why she established the Lena, Mason and Christian Fund, a tax-exempt charity, with the help of a lawyer. It’s to help other children.

Michael said after the fire she visited the duplex and recovered a Spiderman book bag that she bought for Mason. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it,” she said.

Because the lives of Mason and Christian were cut short, Michael said she felt compelled to help other children. The book-bag giveaway, with the packs filled with school supplies, is Michael’s way of giving children an opportunity that Mason and Christian never had.

Michael said the event will focus on fun for children and their families, but there will be a short vigil at 1:30 p.m. to remember Lena, Mason and Christian.

“This is still an open case,” Michael said, adding that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation is still involved. There is a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction; call Help Hotline at 330-746-2583.

Michael said the day also affords an opportunity to raise awareness about violence committed against children.

Family Fun Day began in 2007, two years after Cross and her sons were murdered. Michael said the Lena, Mason and Christian Fund sponsors a benefit spaghetti dinner in February to raise funds to underwrite the event. “Last year, we gave away about 290 book bags,” Michael said.

Michael emphasized that a host of volunteers work to make the event possible. “They’re awesome,” she said. “They do whatever to help.”

Girard Fire Department brings a firetruck for the children to see and climb on.

Mahoning-Trumbull AFL-CIO Council union counselors assist at food tables and Michael’s brother, Jesse Michael, handles the job of grilling hot dogs for the crowd.

Michael said she also has invited various nonprofit organizations to set up displays and among them has been Someplace Safe, a shelter.