LARISA'S STORY
Our Daughter's Story
Larisa Alexandra Karassik’s life was tragically cut short on May 23, 2015. It was Memorial Day weekend, and Larisa, like so many others, was enjoying one of the traditional joys of the holiday weekend: going out for ice cream. Larisa, together with her best friend, was seated in the back seat of the car being driven by her father, when a speeding truck ran a stop sign and plowed into the side of their car, killing Larisa and seriously injuring her father and friend. The driver of the truck was drunk and on prescription drugs. Larisa was only 13 years old at the time of that fatal accident.
In the days, weeks and months following her passing, we came to realize that Larisa was special and extraordinary not just to her family and her friends, but to many others whose lives she touched in her short time here on earth. Many people have shared with us their memories of Larisa, recalling her generous spirit, boundless energy and acts of kindness towards others. These stories and remembrances have lifted our spirits and the many kind words of comfort have brought us solace and strength. We have come to learn that our daughter’s death has had a profound impact on our community.
The love and support of family, friends, neighbors and our community has sustained us and given us the strength to go forward. We have been humbled by the outpouring of generosity and kindness from our community. The overwhelming community support has inspired us to continue the circle of giving and assisting others whose lives have been similarly shattered by establishing the Larisa Karassik Foundation, in memory of Larisa.
Our daughter and sister was a brilliant ray of sunshine. She carried a song in her heart and had faith in the goodness of others. It is our goal to continue Larisa’s legacy by reaching out and helping other families who have similarly lost a beloved child and whose lives have been shattered by drunk and drugged driving.
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It is our wish that no parent or family ever experience the tragic loss of a child due to the selfish act of those driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs
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