“You try to protect and prepare your child for everything, but you never think of this.”
John Navaretta recalled the midnight knock on his door in April 2023. Local police handed him a slip of paper with a Newark, Del., phone number and told him to call immediately.
His daughter, Sabrina, was a student at the University of Delaware.
“They finally connected me to a police officer who asked me to identify myself, and then they just blurted out that Sabrina was in a car accident and she was deceased,” Navaretta told Greater Long Island. “My wife just screamed and broke down, hysterically crying.”
John and his wife, Mara, had learned the unthinkable: Their 19-year-old daughter and Syosset High School graduate had just been killed in a car crash on the university campus on the night of April 28.
A Woodbury native, Sabrina had been studying business management at UD and was an honors student.
In her memory, the Navarettas are hosting their third annual memorial hockey event on Dec. 6 at the Bethpage Ice Rink. Local police and fire alumni teams will take the ice, along with players from Bethpage and Syosset high schools.
“This will be our third annual hockey fundraiser event,” John said. “Having been an avid hockey fan and player on Long Island, I developed many friendships in the hockey community. Sabrina was also an avid fan who loved going to hockey games. It seemed like a natural fit to hold a hockey benefit game.”
“Our first event was a huge success, and the second year grew even larger,” he continued. “We added another game prior to the high school matchup—the Suffolk County Police Alumni team played the FDNY Alumni team—so with our connections to both, it was a perfect fit.”
The event not only honors Sabrina’s memory but also serves as a source of comfort, connection, and support for families coping with the loss of a child. Shortly after Sabrina’s passing, John and Mara became certified grief counselors.
“Through Sabrina’s foundation, we provide love and support to parents who need help,” Mara said. “Many times, we get a phone call and meet with them privately. We know they need immediate support from parents who understand their trauma.”
In just one year, the Navarettas’ grief-support community has grown to 70 parents. Their daughter, Nicolle, recently launched a sibling support group, which already includes five young people seeking connection and guidance.
The family has also established the Sabrina Navaretta Memorial Foundation, which awards college scholarships to students who exemplify the kindness and character Sabrina displayed throughout her life.
For more information about the foundation, visit sabnavfoundation.org.
