Community Corner

Robert Cerny's Family Sets Up Memorial Fund

The fund will help with funeral expenses, travel costs and will also help those who tried to save Cerny in Virginia.

On Feb. 10, Bob Cerny, 67, a resident of East Meadow, was driving northbound on Interstate 95 in Virginia when the 2010 Isuzu moving truck he was driving and struck a tree just south of Route 642 in Sussex County. Bob’s son Robert, 32, was asleep in the passenger seat of the vehicle when the accident occurred, and he says the cause is still not clear. 

"It’s unknown at this point," Robert said. "I was sleeping and the next thing I know is that I heard my dad scream as he tried to stop the truck and we were off the road crashing through woods."

The two men were on their way back from the retirement home the Cernys had purchased in North Carolina when the accident happened. Bob and his wife Susan had long dreamed of moving there after retirement.

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"He will not get to live that dream," Robert said.

Bob, the father of two sons (Robert and David), was very involved in the Cub Scouts in East Meadow when they were young, and he was always somebody who looked out for his neighbors and friends.

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Pat and Steve Hoehlein, also residents of East Meadow, shared a lot of memories of Bob and his family, including a vacation to Disney World for their 25th anniversaries, and they celebrated their 35th anniversaries together on a Caribbean cruise as well.

"Bob was a giver, never a taker.  He was always there to help no matter how busy he was, no matter the time of day, and never asking or needing anything in return.  My husband and I were fortunate to have Bob as a friend," Pat said. "Friends like Bob are few in life and this tragic accident has left a void in many people’s lives."

Robert stated, “Even though my father was 67 and having the normal aches and pains, he'd still go out at 8 a.m. and plow the elder neighbors' snow for them to help them get out if needed. That's just the way he was."

The family of Robert (“Bob”) Cerny has set up a memorial fund that will help cover funeral and other expenses that have arisen from this tragedy.  In addition, they will be making a donation with a portion of this fund to the volunteer Fire and EMS squads in Virginia. These rescuers  extricated his son, Robert, from the truck and worked tirelessly to try and save Bob’s life.

The Cerny Family Memorial Fund has been set up online, and people can donate through PayPal or via check (address is on the website). If you would like to direct your donation either to the family or volunteers, then please place a comment on your PayPal submission or check.

The Jarratt Fire Department and Stony Creek EMS tried their best to help Bob Cerny.

"One of the guys in the fire department actually hopped on the front of the truck to try to do what he could for my dad while the truck was tipping forward," Robert Cerny said. "I definitely want to honor those guys because they did everything they could to save him even though there wasn’t much that could be done."

For more information on Bob Cerny and how you can help the family, be sure to visit the fund's website.


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