Rockland man with Down syndrome to be featured on Times Square Jumbotron nearly 2 years after his death
Wayne, who had Down syndrome and was a darling of Rockland County agencies that support the disability community, will be featured Saturday on a Jumbotron in the heart of New York City.
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Wayne Brola Marsico is still teaching his community how to appreciate the little things in life, even after his death.
Wayne, who had Down syndrome and was a darling of Rockland County agencies that support the disability community, will be featured Saturday on a Jumbotron in the heart of New York City.
"We're all going to be wearing these," Wayne's mother Mary Jean Marsico said as she unfolded a T-shirt with a photo of Wayne with his signature smile.
People all over Rockland County knew Wayne's smile, the ribbons he loved to play with, his love for Coca-Cola and his usual pizza order: plain cheese.
"Oh, no toppings," Mary Jean said with a laugh Thursday during an interview at her Pearl River home. "Just cheese pizza."
Wayne's friends will be watching the National Down Syndrome Society's livestream Saturday evening.
Five hundred people with Down syndrome, including Wayne, will appear on Clear Channel's giant monitor on 47th Street.
Mary Jean, Wayne's father, his two sisters, his niece and several cousins are taking a trip.
"Oh, the whole gang's going," she said. "We'll be down in Times Square for the unveiling of his photo in Times Square, so that'll be fun."
The one-hour montage of photos is the NDSS's way of showing the world the diversity and beauty of the Down syndrome community.
Mary Jean and her husband first met Wayne at the nearby Letchworth Village Psychiatric Center.
They adopted Wayne when he was 8 years old.
Once he got older, he moved to a nearby supportive residence.
He showed people around him how great life can be all the way until he died last year of an illness at age 56.
"He had a family that loved him," Mary Jean said. "He accomplished the things he wanted to accomplish. We were very conscious of that ... That's why I embrace the National Down Syndrome Society. Their message is individuals with Down syndrome can accomplish many things."
Wayne's family expects Wayne and the others to inspire more people this weekend.
"He changed our lives," Mary Jean said. "We could never give back what he gave to us."
After Saturday's event, the family will return to Rockland for a post-event celebration.
They plan to go to one of Wayne's favorite local restaurants and order some Cokes and cheese pizzas.
