College Student From Jersey City Dies Week Before 20th Birthday As Organ Donor
Sophia Lynn Donath, a college student from Jersey City, died unexpectedly on Saturday, June 20 — just one week shy of her 20th birthday, according to her obituary on the Magliaccio Funeral Home website.
Now, more than $10,000 has been raised on a GoFundMe to establish a performing arts scholarship in her memory. A 2024 High Tech High School graduate, she was studying musical theater at the University of Miami while pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, according to her obituary.
In her final act of kindness, Sophia became an organ donor, "giving others the gift of life," the GoFundM…
From Peru To Maryland: Mi Peru Founder Walter Huaman Sr. Leaves Lasting Legacy At 72
One cooking competition changed Walter Huaman Sr.'s life forever.
On Tuesday, June 23, family and friends gathered in Gaithersburg to say goodbye to the founder of Mi Peru Restaurant, a Peruvian chef whose journey carried him from the mountains of Peru to Montgomery County, where he built a restaurant legacy, raised seven children, and inspired those around him through decades of perseverance.
Huaman died Thursday, June 18, at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville following complications from a heart attack. He was 72.
Born on Nov. 20, 1953, in Tarma, Peru, Huaman discovered a passio…
Prom, Graduation, Then Tragedy: Daijah Cherry Remembered After Capitol Heights Shooting
Prom photos. Graduation pictures. A diploma still fresh in her hands.
Less than two weeks later, Maryland detectives were investigating the killing of 18-year-old Daijah Cherry.
The recent H.D. Woodson High School graduate from Washington, DC, was fatally shot late Friday, June 19, outside a home in the 1400 block of Doewood Lane in Capitol Heights, according to Prince George's County Police.
Officers responded to the area at approximately 11:05 p.m. and found Cherry suffering from gunshot wounds outside the residence. She was rushed to a hospital, where she later died.
Now, as detectives…
Middletown Graphic Designer Dies After Brain Cancer Battle, 37
Lauren Hope Vigilante, of Middletown, died on Monday, June 15, after battling brain cancer, at 37 years old.
A GoFundMe set up to support her last November detailed her harrowing diagnosis.
"Two years ago, Lauren was living in New York City, working as a talented graphic designer, chasing her dreams, living life on her terms," her brother Robert wrote. "Now, she’s back home with our parents who care for her every moment. She can’t walk, talk, or move. The vibrant, independent woman we love is trapped in a body that won’t cooperate and it breaks our hearts every day."
The fundraiser was mea…
Future Cut Short: Maryland Mom Mourns Daughter Weeks After Graduation, Full-Ride To Hampton
The photos are almost impossible to look at now.
In one, Genelle Marshall beams in her white graduation cap and gown, a Class of 2026 tassel hanging beside her face. In another, she's celebrating a full-ride scholarship to Hampton University, where she planned to study computer science this fall.
And in one of the last public photos shared before her death, her mother, Nakisha Yates, stands beside her holding a giant "2026" sign, proudly celebrating the future they had spent years building together.
Now, just weeks later, that same Maryland mother is preparing to say goodbye to her only ch…
Nicholas Thanh Dies Unexpectedly At 31 In Virginia, Remembered As Friend Who Always Checked In
The text was simple.
"Hey brother, how's it going? Haven't talked in a while."
For one grieving friend, it's now a reminder of exactly who Nicholas Khoa Thanh was.
The sudden death of the 31-year-old Virginia native has left family and friends mourning far more than a son, brother, uncle, and friend.
They're remembering a sneaker-loving entrepreneur, basketball teammate, anime fan, and loyal friend who never seemed to lose touch with the people he cared about.
Thanh, known to friends as Nick, died unexpectedly in Virginia, according to his family.
In the days since his passing, tr…
Girl From 'The Ring,' Star Of 'Lilo & Stitch' Dies At 35: Reports
The former child actor widely known as the psychic girl in "The Ring" and the voice of Lilo in Disney's "Lilo & Stitch" has died, according to reports.
Daveigh Chase, 35, died from complications of meningitis on Tuesday, June 16. Roy Hernandez, Chase's boyfriend, announced her death to TMZ on Wednesday, June 17.
Hernandez reportedly created a GoFundMe page for Chase as her health worsened.
"Her condition has become critical, and the doctors have told me she may not have much time left," he wrote. "All she ever wanted was a place where we could live togethe…
Man, 54, Killed In Amenia Porsche Crash Was Community Leader, DJ, Father (Update)
A Dutchess County, NY man killed in a crash this month is being remembered as a beloved father, DJ, mentor, and driving force behind a prominent arts organization in the Hudson Valley.
Scott Anderson, 54, of Amenia, died on Monday, June 8, following a two-car crash on South Amenia Road in the Town of Amenia, as previously reported by Daily Voice.
Anderson, a native of Bedford, Massachusetts, was driving a 1998 Porsche Carrera eastbound near Benson Road at around 4:50 p.m. when he lost control of the vehicle. Investigators said the Porsche crossed into the westbound lane and collided w…
Westwood Dad, Park Ridge Coach Bruce Laughton Dies At 54
Bruce D. Laughton, a Bergen County dad, high school coach, and longtime Ramapo College employee, died peacefully, surrounded by family on June 11, according to his obituary from Becker Funeral Home. He was 54 years old.
Laughton grew up in Park Ridge and later raised his children, Elena and Colby, in Westwood. He coached several of their youth sports teams and spent years coaching high school athletics at Park Ridge High School and Paterson Arts & Sciences Charter School, according to his obituary. He continued supporting his children throughout high school and college, attending ne…
'We Built A Brotherhood': Family, Friends Mourn Marco Vanegas After Fatal DC Lyft Crash
A beloved father and grandfather was killed in a crash in DC, leaving behind a stunned family, decades of friendships, and a community now gathering to say goodbye.
Marco A. Vanegas, 52, died Friday, June 6, after the vehicle he was riding in was struck near 17th Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW, just steps from some of the most heavily traveled blocks in the nation’s capital.
He was the passenger who did not survive.
In the days since, the crash has turned from a traffic investigation into something more personal for those who knew him: a funeral, a fundraiser, and a flood of memories…
Heartbroken Mass Family Remembers 14-Year-Old Who Died On School Trip To Granby Resort
A Massachusetts eighth grader who died during a school field trip at a Connecticut resort is being remembered as a gifted student, athlete, and leader whose loss has devastated his family and school community.
Emari Marshall-Woodard, 14, suffered a medical emergency while visiting High Meadow Resort in Granby and drowned on Wednesday, June 11, authorities said. An off-duty officer began life-saving measures before Emari was transported to a hospital, where he later died.
"Our hearts are with the student’s family, friends, classmates, school staff, and all those whose lives have been touched…
'Cruel Twist Of Fate': Swampscott Horse Trainer, 25, Dies Weeks After Fulfilling Lifelong Dream
A young Massachusetts horse trainer who had just achieved her lifelong dream of owning a farm was killed in a devastating riding accident that also claimed the life of her beloved show horse.
Chloe Christina Smith, 25, of Swampscott, was riding with friends in Groton on Friday, June 5, when her horse balked at a jump, throwing her from the saddle before collapsing on top of her, according to her family and obituary.
Smith was airlifted to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, where she died hours later, surrounded by loved ones, Daily Item reported.
“Her life was horses,” her father,…
