W. Waweru, Jadetimes Contributor
W. Waweru is a Jadetimes News Reporter Covering America News
Worcester, Massachusetts—Friends and family were devastated by the 2003 Station Nightclub fire but became close over the years through an annual scholarship benefit. On this year’s special occasion, they grieved the loss of CEO Mark Parella.
Almost every year since the fire, Parella, a close friend of Stacie Angers, Beth Moscyznski, and Mike Fresolo, arranged a benefit concert for scholarships in their names. They were 3 out of 100 who were murdered at the Station Nightclub, and their families reported that their legacies continue through scholarships and the music festival.
“Music is what they loved, so in a way, it allows us to feel closer to them,” said Emily Fresolo, daughter of Mike Fresolo.
“Music meant everything to my sister Stacie ever since she grew up,” said David Angers. “I remember in her bedroom, she had Great White posters all over, I’ll never forget it.”
Many participants at Sunday’s benefit concert reported that this special occasion would not be possible without Parella who passed on last September. Tammy Parella, his wife reported he always put effort into creating a successful event.
“I watched him with this event every year going out to get raffles, putting his heart and soul into it,” said Parella. “And the one thing he did say before he passed was to make sure that we keep this going.”
In a 2023 interview with Spectrum News 1, Parella reported that he wanted to build a place for “everyone connected to the tragedy to share stories about their loved ones and remember them.” Just as he maintained concert fans to keep his legacy alive after all his memorable years, his friends and family maintained this music festival as strong as possible.
“We all banded together and we all did the work, so there’s a lot that goes into it, and it’s actually such a beautiful thing,” said his sister, Lisa Parella.
“There’s just so many people who really pull this together, and I know we were all so nervous about ‘Gosh, can we do what Mark has done?’ Tammy said. “And we really did pull it off.”
The scholarship benefits this special occasion by creating a music festival to benefit upcoming college students to pay their school to support those who lost their loved ones in this horrific tragedy.
“There were a lot of expectations and a lot of mixed emotions because he’d be so proud, but you know he’d want to be here,” said Maria Fresolo.
“It’s very important to help with college and everything, so I think it’s a great scholarship and it’s a lot of meaning to all of us who have lost some pretty amazing people,” said Courtney Vigeant.
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