Dante DeSimone is gone, but he is hardly forgotten.
The man charged with being under the influence in the freak crash that took the popular teen's life was in court yesterday. So was Dante's family.
Jonathan Vanderhorst was held for trial on the charges after a preliminary hearing.
The family of Dante DeSimone sat silently in court as they listed to the other driver in the crash describe how Vanderhorst's car turned directly into his path as he tried to pull into the McDonald's on Baltimore Pike in Clifton Heights. They heard how he tried to take evasive action but was unable to avoid going up on the sidewalk and striking Dante and a friend.
The friend was badly injured. Dante was not nearly as lucky. The accident cost him his life.
His family is keeping Dante's memory alive.
They are holding an ice hockey tournament to raise money for a scholarship in Dante's name.
Dante played ice hockey and lacrosse at Upper Darby High, where he was a recent grad, and lacrosse at Neumann University, where he was to return for the start of his second term in just a few days.
They also are selling T-shirts emblazoned with angels' wings and Dante's trademark No. 21 jersey. They are available in black or gray.
The Dante DeSimone Memorial Cup ice hockey tournament will be held at Ice Works in Aston May 2-4.
They also are holding a Dante tribute night at 60 East Bar in Clifton Heights on May 18 from 5-10 p.m.
All proceeds from the T-shirt sales, as well as the hockey tourney and tribute night go to the Dante DeSimone 21 Memorial Cup Scholarship Fund.
Dante's memory lives on, in the actions of his family and friends.
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