Electrified Puddle Proves Fatal For Queens Couple

Bruce Berenson, the father coping with the loss of his eldest daughter in last weeks electrical storm tragedy, describes his grief as "shattering and numbing."
"Alana was by all accounts very special  she was a truly eclectic person," said Berenson. "She was the first and as the first she taught me about unconditional love."
During funeral services held this past Sunday, where more than 600 people were in attendance, the family gathered to remember the 19-year-old SUNY Maritime student and her 23-year-old boyfriend, Joseph Cheetham, who was killed when he attempted to save his dying girlfriend.
"He was an outstanding guy," said Alanas 17-year-old sister, Jenna. "Its as though he was part of the family." The two had been dating nearly a year and, according to Jenna, probably had intentions to marry.
"The thing that really drew me close to Joe was the fact that he loved Alana unconditionally," said the girls father.
Berenson went on to tell The Queens Courier that the incident was "a fathers worst nightmare," as he recalled some of his favorite memories of his daughter.
"She entered a fourth grade story-telling contest and began to exhibit the type of bravery that helps you get through life," said Berenson. "She was just a gutsy kid with that type of quiet, ordinary courage."
The familys grief is heightened by the fact that the tragedy was so senseless.
"The water had begun to enter the car," said Jenna. "It was past the doors, and there was no way they could have avoided it because the entire area was flooded."
On the day of the storm, lightning downed a power line, which fell into and electrified a huge puddle at the intersection of 15th Avenue and 117th Street in College Point. Upon veiwing the ill-fated area a few days after the incident, the family was horrified to learn that the area usually begins to fill with water at the slightest hint of rain. According to Jenna, the family will be working with local politicians to try and alleviate the oft-occurring problem. The family is also working on establishing a fund in Alanas memory.
Those wishing to contribute may send donations to The Alana Berenson Fund, c/o Whitestone Hebrew Center, 12-44 Clintonville Street, Whitestone, NY 11357.
"Were doing as well as we can in light of the tragedy," said Jenna. "We have the support of a strong family, but we still have our numb periods. We just have to try to hold on to the memories, to what we have."
E-mail this reporter at rbellastella@aol.com .