Grieving relatives of Cypress Bay assistant football coach appeal to hit-and-run driver.
Coach’s family pleads for hit-and-run driver to come forward
Grieving relatives of Cypress Bay High’s assistant football coach Carlo Ullysse Jr. pleaded Monday for the driver who struck him and left him to die on the side of Interstate 95 to come forward.
“Your soul will never rest until you speak with the investigators,” said Carlo Ullysse, of Fort Myers, the late coach’s father. He and a dozen family members gathered at the Florida Highway Patrol’s Davie station to share their pain and the love they feel for the man they all called “C.J.”
Ullysse, 27, of North Lauderdale, had been in a collision with another driver and was out of his car and checking on her well-being before he was hit, said his mother, Marie Ullysse-Lanoue, of North Lauderdale.
“He died helping someone else,” Ullysse-Lanoue said, adding that her son was showing his selfless nature to a stranger right before he was killed.
The crash happened at 6:19 a.m. Aug. 5 in a northbound lane of I-95, just north of Oakland Park Boulevard. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating both crashes and has not released details about the initial collision that prompted Ullysse to leave his car.
Ullysse held three jobs: Assistant football coach at Cypress Bay
“Your soul will never rest until you speak with the investigators.”
Carlo Ullysse, late coach’s father
High in Weston; personal trainer, and part-time security guard at a downtown Fort Lauderdale bar, his family said. Ullysse was coming home from his security job when he was killed, according to his mother.
He didn’t have time for romance, relatives said, and he spoiled them with his time and his sports knowledge.
“He was a mad, crazy impact on my life,” said Caleb Ullysse, 14, Ullysse’s younger brother. He called Ullysse his “best friend.”
They trained together, and Caleb credited his older sibling with improving his basketball skills and for supporting his goals. He said he will miss him, their talks, and their post-workout trips to Whole Foods.
“It’s so sad to see how his life ended,” Caleb said.
The family all wore Tshirts that said “More Fire,” which was Ullysse’s motto.
“That fire [in him] was always lit, always,” said Jeffrey Gilles, 26, of Miramar, one of Ullysse’s cousins. The late coach felt the phrase was about “what motivates you, what makes you a better person. You have the fire within, and that was the message he wanted to spread to people,” Gilles said.
Gilles said among the things he will miss about Ullysse is their weekend rollerblading trips on the Hollywood Broadwalk.
News of Ullysse’s death stunned the Cypress Bay campus, where he was known for having a positive, upbeat approach toward players.
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do as a coach,” Cypress Bay head football coach Josh Shapiro told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Aug. 6. “When I got the news yesterday, I absolutely dreaded having to stand in front of these boys this morning.”
Lightning coaches and guidance counselors were ready before practice that day to speak with players. Ullysse attended Cypress Bay and played cornerback on its football team. He went on to play for Indiana State before returning to Cypress Bay to coach defensive backs.
Funeral services are open to the public, the family said. A viewing will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Samuel Funeral Home, 14686 W. Dixie Highway in North Miami.
In addition to Ullysse’s parents, younger brother and cousin, three sisters survive him: Monica Ullysse, 24; Racquel Ullysse, 17 and Gabrielle Ullysse, 16. His stepfather, Adrien Lanoue, is also among the extensive family that mourns him.
On Saturday, the funeral will be held at 10 a.m. at New Birth Baptist Church, 2300 NW 135th St. in Miami.
Burial will follow at Caballero Rivero Southern Cemetery, 15000 W. Dixie Highway, in North Miami.
Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Alvaro Feola investigators are looking for surveillance video.
“There was not a lot of evidence on the side of the road for us to work with,” Feola said. “There were a few Crime Stoppers tips that came in and we’re looking into it.”
He said help from the public about any detail, even if it’s something that may seem small, or if a windshield or auto repair shop has a customer with extensive front-end damage, the FHP wants to hear from them.
“We don’t know what kind of vehicle or what color vehicle,” Feola said. “If anyone saw or heard anything that can help us bring closure to the family, we’d love to hear from you.”
The Florida Highway Patrol asks anyone with information about the crash to dial *347 on a cellphone or call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477. The organization accepts anonymous calls and pays up to $3,000 for information that leads to an arrest.