Senate Resolution No. 2566

BY: Senator KAMINSKY

MOURNING the untimely passing of Lazar LaPenna,
Long Island Little Leaguer and fourth-grade student
at East Elementary School in Long Beach, New York

WHEREAS, It is with great sorrow and deep regret that this
Legislative Body records the passing of Lazar LaPenna, of Long Beach,
New York, on Friday, April 29, 2022, two days after his 10th Birthday;
and

WHEREAS, The son of Gregg and Monique LaPenna, Lazar was a happy,
and energetic young man who loved his family, sports and life; he was an
avid baseball and football fan and dreamed of becoming a professional
athlete; and

WHEREAS, Since the age of four, Lazar LaPenna has been a member of
the Little League, and each year, has picked his jersey number
corresponding with his age; for this season, however, he decided he
wanted to keep the number nine, because he wanted to stay that number
forever; and

WHEREAS, April 29th began just like any day in the young life of a
child who was looking forward to playing his first baseball game of the
season; he got up in the morning, and with his dad/coach, excitedly met
his fellow players at the Little League baseball field; and

WHEREAS, When it was his turn at the plate, Lazar LaPenna stood at
the bag and swung the bat; after hitting the ball, he excitedly ran
towards first base, and tragically experienced an epileptic seizure and
collapsed; unfortunately, attempts to save his life were unsuccessful
and he was transported to a local hospital; and

WHEREAS, Since this tragic day, baseball fans throughout Long
Island, and New York State as a whole have been celebrating his life and
the many accomplishments he had reached at such a young age; classmates,
teammates and other teams in the area are paying tribute, displaying
baseball bats on porches and using the hashtag BatsOutForLazar; even his
beloved Mets honored him by leaving three bats leaning against the wall
outside of their clubhouse during a game; and

WHEREAS, Lazar LaPenna is survived by his loving parents and his two
brothers, Gerry and Blaze, as well as numerous other family members,
friends, and the entire Long Beach community who will all cherish his
memory; and

WHEREAS, Lazar LaPenna will always be remembered for his athletic
talent, positive attitude, and outgoing personality which exuded with
the joy of being a young man in the prime of his life; and

WHEREAS, Baseball is an all-American past time, and Lazar LaPenna
died doing what he loved to do; he will forever serve as an example of
good sportsmanship and his memory will truly inspire both children and
adults to start each day with a smile and live life to the very fullest;
and


WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Lazar LaPenna leaves behind a legacy which will long endure
the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
befriended, admired and loved; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
take a moment of silence to honor the memory of Lazar LaPenna, Long
Island Little Leaguer and fourth-grade student at East Elementary School
in Long Beach, New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Lazar LaPenna.