March 29, 2003, I lost more than just a friend. There are some people in life that you meet along the way that leave an everlasting impression on you. Mike Curtin was one of those people in my life.
I met Mike my freshman year at Howell High School through a group of my friends who lived on his block, we all played hockey together and eventually formed a team.
Mike’s insight and inspiration flourished not just playing the game of hockey, but also the way he conducted himself with the team and outside of the rink.
Almost every single day after school, Mike would drive me and some other guys, and we would head down to Echo Lake, where we would practice until the sun went down. He would go out of his way to get everyone together and bring about a sense of team unity.
I specifically remember the times where Mike and I would practice by ourselves, one on one. He taught me everything he knew about the game and offered his advice on school and the real world.
Since he was two years older than me, I took everything he said to heart, like an apprentice learning from a mentor. When the season began we rallied around his natural leadership, which earned him the right of team captain. Mike’s presence on the rink lead the team to an outstanding season, clinching the league championship in his final season performance.
Even though he graduated two years ahead of me, we still kept in touch every so often. Mike gave me someone to identify with and most importantly, someone to look up to.
On March 29, 2003 Army Cpl. Michael E. Curtin was killed in Iraq attempting to help a taxi cab driver in distress. When he and three other soldiers approached the vehicle, the suicide bomber detonated the car, killing all four soldiers.
This season as I play Rutgers recreational roller hockey league I will be wearing a black band upon my right arm of my jersey in memory of Mike and what he brought to my life as well as all those he has touched along his way. I will be encouraging this throughout the league to represent this fallen hero of the war in Iraq.
Mike was the older brother I never had. I will never ever forget the sacrifice he made for this country.
All my condolences to the Curtin family; your son has been an extremely influential person to many and I will carry all that he has taught me throughout my life.
Daniel J. Santoro
Howell