Senate Resolution No. 4555

BY: Senator TEDISCO

HONORING Rich Carley Jr. posthumously upon the
occasion of his designation for special recognition,
in conjunction with the observance of April 2018, as
Organ Donor Awareness Month in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is with profound intent that this Legislative Body is
moved to honor a man of such selfless spirit whose caring nature will
forever stand as a paradigm and inspiration for others; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Rich Carley
Jr. posthumously upon the occasion of his designation for special
recognition, in conjunction with the observance of April 2018, as Organ
Donor Awareness Month in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Rich Carley Jr. died on March 15, 2018, at the age of 37;
known by many for his big heart, this true humanitarian helped save five
lives, including that of his childhood best friend Salvatore Casale,
through an organ donation of his heart, lungs and kidneys; and

WHEREAS, Rich Carley Jr. and Salvatore Casale grew up in Johnstown,
New York; their families lived across the street from one another; their
mothers, Linda Cecconi and Mirella Casale, were friends even before the
boys were born; and

WHEREAS, After the boys came along, they were inseparable whether
riding big wheels or bikes, playing on the same little league team,
going to Boy Scouts together, having sleepovers, accompanying family
vacations together or getting into mischief; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from Johnstown High School in 1998, Rich
Carley Jr. attended Northeastern University in Boston where he majored
in music; he lived and worked in Boston for several years where he met
his business partner, Scott Shor; they opened three successful craft
beer businesses: the Charleston Beer Exchange, Edmund's Oast Exchange
and the Greenville Beer Exchange; and

WHEREAS, In 2015, Rich Carley Jr. married his wife, Caleigh; and

WHEREAS, It was at the time of his unexpected death that Rich Carley
Jr.'s mother found out that her son, unsurprising to her due to his kind
and compassionate spirit, was an organ donor; and

WHEREAS, As the family discussed how best to carry out Rich Carley's
Jr. wishes, they remembered his friend Salvatore Casale who was
diagnosed with kidney disease in 2014 and hospitalized, was in need of a
kidney transplant; and

WHEREAS, In August of 2016, Salvatore Casale was diagnosed with end
stage kidney failure; he was placed on the United Network for Organ
Sharing federal transplant list; and

WHEREAS, Just days after Rich Carley Jr.'s death, Salvatore received
a call from Rich's sister, enquiring what hospital he was registered

through and what his blood type is to see if a direct kidney donation
could be made; and

WHEREAS, Childhood besties, Salvatore Casale and Rich Carley Jr.
were a match and Salvatore underwent a successful kidney transplant at
the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse,
New York, on March 18, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Today, Salvatore Casale is doing well; regular check-ups
are showing the kidney is hitting the benchmarks for functioning that
doctor's look for following a transplant; furthermore, he has not
required dialysis since the surgery; he is truly grateful his friend
chose to give the gift of life and he was the recipient; and

WHEREAS, Each year the waiting list for organ transplants grows
longer; many people die before an organ becomes available; the need for
organ donation is real and urgent; and

WHEREAS, While Salvatore Casale is the only recipient of Rich Carley
Jr.'s organs that his mother can name, she received word his other
kidney, heart and lungs went to four other anonymous recipients; in
addition, she was informed that his "bigger-than-life" heart went to a
15-year-old in Charleston, South Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Funny, kind, and loving, many agree the world was a better
place with Rich Carley Jr. in it; his decision to be an organ donor has
perfectly guaranteed his selfless spirit will live on; now, therefore,
be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Rich Carley Jr. posthumously upon the occasion of his designation
for special recognition, in conjunction with the observance of April
2018, as Organ Donor Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Rich Carley Jr., and Salvatore Casale.