Belvidere High School junior Connor Barbaro died after an ATV crash March 4, 2016.
Christina Barbaro misses her son.
"Our whole family misses Connor so much -- his big personality, smile, sense of humor and kind-heartedness," she said this week, as the anniversary of the Belvidere High School junior's fatal ATV crash approached.
Connor Barbaro, a Belvidere High School junior, died in an ATV crash on Route 46 on March 4, 2016. (Courtesy photo)On March 4, 2016, a Friday evening, 16-year-old Connor Barbaro -- a popular, dual-sport athlete -- was struck by a vehicle while riding around Route 46 and Titman Road, just east of where 46 meets Route 519 in White Township. He was not wearing a helmet and suffered severe head injuries. His death two hours later was ruled an accident.
Two weeks earlier, he had scored a career-high 20 points in a basketball game against Hackettstown.
The day after the accident, a memorial was set up at the crash site. There were balloons and flowers, a red towel for the Belvidere County Seaters, and a white driving helmet covered with personalized notes, many addressed to "Babs."
It was not the only memorial Barbaro's grieving peers arranged. Students scheduled a day to wear white in his honor, and school was cancelled one day for his funeral -- held in the gymnasium.
'Everyone knew Connor,' grieving peers say
Barbaro's mother said the White Township Athletic Association dedicated a bench to the soccer player at the field off Route 519. And just last month, the Belvidere boys basketball team started four players -- Barbaro was the ceremonial fifth starter.
Saturday will be difficult. Christina Barbaro said she expects Connor's friends will be visiting his memorials, and that her family appreciates their support.
"We are so thankful to his friends, our family and friends and the surrounding communities for the ways in which they have honored Connor," Christina said. "Words are truly not enough to express our gratitude for the support we have received over the past year."
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.