Fund raises nearly $23,500 for teen’s funeral
NEW MILFORD — The community is rallying around the family of the local teen who drowned in Candlewood Lake on Memorial Day.
Nearly $23,500 was raised in less than 24 hours for the funeral expenses of Joshua Dasilva, 17, whose body was recovered Wednesday near Dike Point Recreation Area after a search that spanned three days.
Dasilva, a student at Henry Abbott Technical High School in Danbury, lived in New Milford with his mom and two siblings.
A GoFundMe page set up Wednesday night asked the community to help the family “in this time of deep pain.” The $10,000 goal was exceeded within hours. More than 580 people had donated by 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
“We ask that for everyone continue to pray for this family, and may God comfort then (sic) in this difficult time,” the fundraising page said.
Friends tried to rescue Dasilva when they realized he had gone missing as they swam near Dike Point Recreation Area, according to the fundraising page.
New Milford police and a volunteer search-and-rescue dive team from Newtown searched for Dasilva during daylight hours beginning Monday until his body was found around noon Wednesday.
The medical examiner’s office said Thursday afternoon it is still studying the cause and manner of his death.
In a Facebook post written in Portuguese, his mother, Eiliane Dasilva, thanked people for their support. She said she gave her son a final hug and kiss on Wednesday, asking him for forgiveness for being unable to save his life.
She described the pain she is experiencing, saying she feels like “all the bones of my body are being broken.”
Dasilva enjoyed playing basketball and helped his mom with his siblings, a neighbor said.
One of his basketball teammates described him as “one of the nicest people” he knew.
“Every time I was having a bad game he was always there to tell me to keep going and to block out everything else and he would tell me that he had my back if I was off,” wrote Noah Odell on the GoFundMe page. “I know he’s up there playing on the golden courts. Josh you will be missed. Fly High.”
Attempts to reach Dasilva’s coach and parents on Thursday were unsuccessful.
Henry Abbott Technical High School has dealt with the aftermath “pretty proactively,” said Peter Yazbak, spokesman for the state Department of Education.
“The school has been offering counseling supports, and also dealing with parents, students and families on a
one-on-one basis,” he said. “They’ve received a lot of phone calls and there have been a lot of individual conversations with students and parents.”
“The school will continue to offer counseling supports for the students and victims,” Yazbak said.
Amber Snow, of New Bedford, Mass., 19, met Dasilva a few summers ago on a camping trip at Strawberry Park. The two met at a dance at the campground and had a crush on each other, she said.
“He was just such a really sweet kid,” Snow said, adding he chased after her camper the day her family went home.
The two stayed in touch for a while, but had not talked recently. She said she plans to attend his funeral.
“I can’t believe it,” Snow said. “It really just tore me apart.”
Another friend, Lance Malarkey, who went to middle school with Dasilva, said the teen would “forever be in our hearts.”
“He was a great friend and probably an even better son,” Malarkey wrote on the fundraising page. “A parent should never have to bury their own child. Nothing can show the sorrow many of us feel. You don't know how much you miss someone until they're gone. This town will never be the same. Be strong. We all love you Josh.”