Schettino Park Petition Drive Swells Due to Community Support

Just one month and two days after their only son and eldest child, Billy, was killed on the LIE after his car became disabled in a hit and run, Luigi and Jo Ann Schettino led a contingent of over two dozen volunteers going door to door with petitions to build a park in honor of the 18-year-old Bayport-Blue Point graduate.

Donning t-shirts depicting Billy’s image, the Blue Point couple knocked on doors along Park Street seeking support to turn the former site of the Blue Point Laundry into a place where children of all ages can play and help fulfill a dream their son initiated when he was a pre-teen. Billy's younger sister, 10-year-old Marissa was participating as well. She's handling the loss of her "Bill Bill," as she called her brother, as well as any young sibling can, said her parents.

Billy Schettino was a skateboard enthusiast before he hit his teens, as well as a creative talented graphic artist. He had dreams of creating his own clothing line. He was  a teenager beloved by his family, his aunts and uncles and cousins, a large circle of friends and even by strangers who didn’t know his name but knew him from his hours at the Wastelands, the nickname for the abandoned laundry site.

In between knocking on doors, his parents and friends recalled moments where Billy did for others and always showed compassion for people who needed help.

“There are kids who bring home stray cats and dogs,” said his father Luigi. “Billy brought home kids who needed a place to stay and who were having trouble at home," he said with a smile.

"We’d come home from a trip and find one, or several teens at the house. We’d ask him what was up and he’s just say they needed a place to stay for a few days because of a situation at home. That’s who he was.”

His uncle and godfather Anthony Zagger can’t help but smile either when he’s asked his nephew.

“You’d be in a room where there was an argument and he’d show up and do something funny or wacky and just diffuse it all and everyone would end up laughing and joking and move on from that anger,” said Zagger. “He was just that kind of kid.”

Longtime family friend Melody Herbst, who walked with Billy’s parents Saturday afternoon in the petition effort, said her oldest son, Matt, and Billy became fast friends when they met each when they were about eight years old.

“They were inseparable, playing ball together, skating. They considered themselves brothers. It was an instant kinship,” she recalled. “It’s just so surreal he’s gone.”

Petition volunteers said the reception from residents was extremely positive and responsive. So far an online petition has garnered over 5,000 signatures.

Those interested in signing the online petition for the Schettino memorial park effort can click here.

The community effort will likely bring that number to over 12,000, said organizers.

Sisters Krystle and Shannon Vanderhoof, who walked Bowne Avenue in the petition push, said the community response was amazing. At one residence they met a woman who related a typical story about Billy.

“She said she met him one time while he was at the park and remembers his smile. What a nice boy she said,” related Shannon.

“Most people were eager to help. Some people didn’t even let us finish explaining what we were looking to do and grabbed the petition to sign,” said Krystle. “Everyone was lovely and so nice.”

One of the Park Street residents that Billy’s parents met offered to do any landscaping design needed for the project.

Another resident pulled out a $100 bill to donate.

A mother and daughter bike riding oon the block stopped and asked to sign the petition and said what a wonderful way to remember someone so loved.

A man mowing his lawn, who has lived on Park for 30 years, said the park effort was a fabulous idea.

The community feedback was, at times, a bit overwhelming for the family members who fought back tears during the several hour petition effort.

“This is something Billy would have done for someone else,” said Anthony Zagger. “He wore his heart on the sleeve. He was just a great kid.”