1,300 toys donated in memory of Spotswood sweethearts

• The Szatkowski family held a toy drive Sunday in Jeffrey Szatkowski's name.
• More than 1%2C300 toys were collected in honor of the late Spotswood football standout.
• Sweethearts Jeffrey Szatkowski%2C 17%2C and Nicole Surace%2C 18%2C were killed in a car accident last year.
• A Mass attended by more than 500 people was held on Saturday in Nicole Surace's name.

SPOTSWOOD – Still reeling from their child's death a year ago, Jeff and Kim Szatkowski were able to mark the first anniversary in a way that would have made 17-year-old Jeffrey Szatkowski Jr. proud. Along with their youngest son, Ryan, 15, the family hosted the first annual Jeffrey Szatkowski Jr. Toy Drive on Sunday at the Polish American Club.

One year ago, the borough and surrounding community was brought to its knees with the deaths of Szatkowski and Nicole Surace on Dec. 1, 2013. The young couple died just hours after a one-car accident on Dutch Road in nearby East Brunswick on Nov. 30.

"Jeff loved toys," Kim Szatkowski said. "Even at 17, he loved toys. His car was always filled with footballs, scooters, basketballs, fishing gear — in case they were somewhere and someone wanted to play. He had it all. He was always prepared."

Much to their surprise, more than 1,300 toys were donated in one day. That number was much more than Kim Szatkowski and her family expected.

"I made tags for all the toys so we could keep track," she said. "I made 400 thinking that was a good estimate. I had no idea we would get more than 1,000. My living room is filled. My garage is filled. They just keep coming. It is overwhelming, but it is really wonderful. We will make another child smile in his memory."

Testament to Nicole and Jeff

"This just shows how many people Nicole and Jeff touched in their lives," she said. "I am so proud of them. Their friends have told us so many stories about them — things we never would have heard — about what a good friend he was to them. My husband and I were floored. We always taught him to be a good friend. Be a good person, so no one can ever say anything bad about you. I am so proud of him."

Obviously touched at the outpouring of toys, Kim Szatkoswski said others' "generosity on his behalf will bring happiness to other children in his name."

"So many people — his friends and family — came to see us and brought a toy," she said. "Strangers came with toys. And so many of them were lime green, which was Jeff's favorite color, or had butterflies, which is how we remember Nicole. It was just so beautiful to know that so many people not only brought a toy in his name but thought about them while buying the gift. One person even found a pair of pajamas with the number 7 on it. I couldn't believe they found that. There was a lot of heart in the gift buying."

Young and in love

Funny, loving, playful and joyful is how many described Jeffrey Szatkowski Jr., No. 7 on the Spotswood High School football and baseball teams, and Nicole Surace, 18, a former cheer co-captain. Known for their huge smiles, bringing a happy grin to another child seems a perfect way to honor the teen sweethearts' memory.

"Jeffrey was such a loving, fun and little boy at heart even at the age of 17 years old. He loved toys and loved to give to others, especially children," Kim Szatkowski said. "We knew that day was going to be hard. That was the day of the accident. It was a good way to get together on a sad day. This way we made something so sad turn into something positive."

The teenagers met as students at Spotswood High School and began dating in 2012. At the time of their deaths, Szatkowski, from the borough, was a senior, while Surace, a 2013 Spotswood graduate and Milltown resident, was a freshman at Monmouth University in West Long Branch. The two were said to be headed back to the borough from Surace's home in Milltown when the accident occurred during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Months after the accident, police said that in trying to take an evasive maneuver to avoid striking a deer, Szatkowski ran off the roadway, striking a telephone pole. The vehicle overturned in the wooden area, striking several trees and landing on its roof. Police added that speed was a factor in the accident, though it was not considered reckless or the sole cause.

After separate wakes and services that drew hundreds, the young couple was buried together, side by side, at Holy Cross Burial Park in South Brunswick. Their headstones are engraved with half a heart that meet to form one heart. The hearts hold the words "His Girl" and "Her Boy."

Bonded families

Today, the two families remain close — sharing a bond no parent wants to share. Last spring, the fathers — Jeff Szatkowski and Michael Surace — wrote a poem together that was published in the "In Memoriam" section of the Home News Tribune. The poem spoke of the memories, pride and love the families hold dear and of a future the two would never share together — careers, marriage, children.

"They were so good together," Kim Szatkowski said. "They were both competitive, loved sports, funny. She kept up with him. Even when Nicole went off to school, their relationship was so mature. They were so happy, so in love and so wonderful together. That's what is so sad now is that we can't see their future."

"We support each other in this tragedy that we share," said Surace's mother, Diane.

On Saturday, a Mass was held at St. Bartholomew Church in East Brunswick in honor of Surace. Michael Surace told the more than 500 that attended the story of his daughter's life. Patrick Tully, of Spotswood, sang a song he wrote for his close friend after her death.

"The song is called 'Look at that Angel,' " Diane Surace said. "It is just beautiful. We didn't know how to mark that day but knew everybody — her friends — would be home for that weekend. We wanted to do something and it turned out really very nice. It was for her and all her friends and a way for all of us to be together."

On Sunday, both families and brothers participated. Szatkowski's younger cousins acted as elves for the day.

"Jeffrey was the oldest grandchild," Kim Szatkowski said. "All the younger ones looked up to him. It was good to have them involved, doing something good for Jeffrey."

Helping others in their names

In the teens' names, the families and friends created joint and individual scholarships at the high school, and one at Monmouth in Surace's name. Other events and items, such as walks, T-shirts, bracelets, an online donation page and a horseshoe tournament, helped raise funds. Another walk was held at Joyce Kilmer Middle School, where Surace was a student, Diane Surace said.

On Monday, Monmouth University students were asked to wear purple in memory of Surace, and her sorority held a balloon release.

"That day was so hard and so emotional," Diane Surace said. "But that was so nice."

As the anniversary drew near, Kim Szatkowski wanted to do something "in Jeff's name that represented him."

"His brother said a walk was not Jeff," Kim Szatkowski said. "A girlfriend of mine said that when she thought of Jeffrey, she would think of his smile and how he loved toys. She suggested a toy drive and we knew that was perfect. This we can do. Now we have to find all the toys a home."

Kim Szatkowski said she plans to donate the toys to local hospitals and other organizations, including the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Saint Peters Children's Hospital, both in New Brunswick. Others include the Ashley Lauren Foundation in Colts Neck, Children's Specialized Hospital in Mountainside, Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and United Way locations. She plans to give donated gift cards to the Embrace the Kids Foundation in New Brunswick and others in need.

Acknowledging that the past year was "very hard," Kim Szatkowski said she and her family are grateful for the support of the borough and surrounding communities.

"The people have been so wonderful," she said. "From the town to the school to the coaches. It is amazing the support and love that has been given to us from one small town. It warms my heart."

Diane Surace agreed, saying her therapy has been people.

"The people who knew her, the stories they share with us," she said. "All of that helps."

Staff Writer Cheryl Makin: 732-565-7256; cmakin@mycentraljersey.com