Cranburians in shock over fatal accident
By: Matt Kirdahy
The prayers and thoughts of Cranbury residents are on one thing this week the Kishyk family of Symmes Court.
Therese Kishyk, 42, and Stephen Kishyk, 11, died of injuries suffered in an accident 7 p.m. Sunday on Old Trenton Road. The two were returning home from an indoor soccer game when their car hit an oncoming automobile. Also in the car were, Alexander, 43, Gregory, 10, and Andrew, 7.
Mr. Kishyk is currently in stable condition at Capital Health System at Fuld hospital in Trenton. Gregory and Anthony were taken to Fuld’s trauma center and were later flown to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Andrew was in critical condition Thursday.
Chris Orcutt of South Main Street said Therese and Stephen were the most wonderful people she’s ever met.
"Therese was a great mom. She always used to walk her kids to school with their dog Casey," Ms. Orcutt said.
She also said that Stephen had an usual rapport with adults.
"He always used to look you in the eye and speak so clearly when he was addressing you," Ms. Orcutt said. "Most kids don’t do that."
Sheree Dunnett, who lives on South Main Street at Symmes Court, also is mourning the loss of her close friends.
"At the beginning of every school year we used to get the kids together and take a picture," Ms. Dunnett said. "We took the picture so we could look back and see how the kids grew over the years. I can’t believe that Stephen isn’t here anymore."
Everyone who knew Stephen said he was an accomplished athlete, trombone player and a fine actor. He was regularly involved in the school plays and jazz band.
The Cranbury School had a two-hour delayed opening on Monday partly because of the icy road conditions and because of the tragedy.
Vice Principal Michelle Jackson said the school’s main priority is to help students deal with the grief.
"We implemented our crisis management program," Ms. Jackson said. "The delayed opening helped us deal with the tragedy, and it gave us time to plan on how we were going to talk to the students and help them with the loss."
Stephen’s former soccer coach, Vinnie Kotowski, remembers a "wonderful mother in Therese and a courageous soccer player in Stephen." He also called the Kishyks an "All-American family."
"Therese was so very doting of her children," he said. "And Stephen epitomized what it is to be a consummate team player."
The Rev. Ed Flannagan of the Nativity of Our Lord R. C. Church in Monroe said Therese was always involved in the church.
"She used to teach the First Eucharist class on Sundays. And the whole family attended 11 a.m. Mass every weekend," Father Flannagan said.
The church will hold a grief-counseling program on Sunday at 10 a.m. for children and 11 a.m. for adults.
In addition, Ms. Orcutt is organizing a candlelight vigil at the Cranbury Fire Department on South Main Street Friday (today) at 7 p.m.
"Because of the weather we might not be able to make this happen," she said. "So if not, I want to encourage people to pray in their home with their family. Therese believed in the power of prayer and she would want this."
Lee Nissen of Symmes Court remembers the first day the "happy" family arrived.
"I remember when the Kishyks came to look at the house that would become their home," Ms. Nissen said. "When we found out that something had happened to Therese and Stephen, it was like someone reached in and pulled a hole out of the side of the neighborhood."
Funeral arrangements for Therese and Stephen have not been made yet.

