Kassel Aaron Smit
Parents can never completely get over the death of a child, but
they can learn to celebrate their children's legacy. A Cary family
turned its mourning into making a difference.
Kassel A. Smit, 16, of Cary died Monday, April 12, 2004, in a car
crash on Highway 64 in Cary. His family and friends remember him as
a vibrant teenager who brought so much joy to people's lives.
"The greatest pleasure that he had was making somebody laugh or
smile," said Theresa Smit, Kassel's mother.
Theresa and Kevin Smit, Kassel's father, have their moments, but
they do not dwell on the pain. Instead, they celebrated what would
have been Kassel's 18th birthday with a fundraising run at Bond
Park. The event raises money for scholarships for Cary High School
students.
Kassel was a runner, a boy scout and a member of the drama club
at Cary High, but it was not what he did, it was how he did
it.
"He would reach out to anybody and everybody and make them feel
important. He did that a lot," Kevin Smit said.
The Smits said they have no ill-will toward the teenage driver of
the car their son was riding in. Instead, they have a message for
how parents should treat their children. "Take those rare moments
that you have and reach out, wrap your arms around them and give
them a big hug. Do it early and often," Kevin Smit said.
