Silent vigil for Y swimmers-Friends and Community form a wall of support

“If anyone ever misses her [April], just look deep inside your heart and she will always be there.”
This was the somber message last night at a silent vigil held in memory of the victims of the fatal car accident in Tuxedo, New York that claimed the lives of four people last week – including three members of the Flushing Flyers Aquatic Club.
The service drew more than 100 family, friends, and community members at Weeping Beech Park, across the street from the Flushing YMCA, in commemoration of April Lao, 14, of Cambodian descent, Shuk Tse, 47, and Tse’s sons Kevin Kwan, 16, and Douglas Jiang, 10, originally from Hong Kong.
“The YMCA family suffered a devastating and heartbreaking loss,” said Jack Lund, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York. “We offer our deepest condolences to the Kwan and Lao families and we continue to pray for the complete recovery of Andy Lao and his mother, Karen [who were injured in the crash].”
Embracing each other and forming a wall of support, the attendees lit candles, signed posters, and remembered fondly the lives tragically taken on March 17.
The group was headed to a YMCA swim meet in Buffalo when, according to reports, Tse stopped the minivan she was driving in the New York Thruway’s northbound right lane in order to check a flat tire. A tractor-trailer driven by David Tichko, 52, of Cedar Grove, New Jersey, then fatally barreled into the van. Tichko has not been charged in the incident.
Following the accident, the remaining members of the Flushing Flyers – their bodies covered in the names of their fallen teammates – went on to win six of the 10 age-division events.
“In a time of great pain and sorrow, they [the swimmers] demonstrated true courage, compassion, and resiliency,” said Lund.
“It was a bittersweet victory,” said Rich Finkelstein, coach of the Flushing Flyers.
Grief counselors were on hand at Stuyvesant High School, where Lao was a freshman and Kwan was a sophomore. In addition, the YMCA dispatched grief counselors both downstate and upstate to assist its members.
Currently, the Queens Counseling Services of FRMH is offering free sessions for team members, families, and teachers. They can be reached at (718) 461-6393 or Plengel@aol.com.
The YMCA is now re-examining transportation options in light of the tragedy.
Memorial services for the Kwan family will be held at the Central Funeral Home, 136-25 41st Avenue Flushing, with a public viewing on Friday, March 24 from 3 to 7 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 25 at 8 a.m. All services will be in accordance with the Buddhist faith.
In addition, the body of April Lao has been returned to a funeral home in Flushing. Information about April’s memorial will be provided as soon as the plans are finalized.
In a statement issued through Councilman John Liu’s office, May Kwan, sister of Shuk Tse, said, “Our family sincerely appreciates the concern and care shown by the community and all the assistance that has been offered. We express our deepest condolences to the Lao family for the loss of their daughter April and pray for the speedy and full recovery of Mrs. Lao and little Andy.