The new markers on Holbrook Road. Photo from the Town of Seymour.
SEYMOUR — An act of kindness on the town’s part has filled Karen Smerling’s heart.
Smerling lost her 26-year-old son Brian Tuzik in a tragic car accident in 2005. She had a small memorial — a white wooden cross bearing Brian’s name — placed on a tree in his honor on Holbrook Road. The cross was made by Tuzik’s late dad, William, who passed away in 2021.
Tuzik, who lived nearby on Great Hill Road, was a passenger in a car that struck a tree on a curvy section of Holbrook Road on March 19, 2005. Tuzik was a 1996 graduate of Shelton High School and was a self-employed painter with a heart of gold, according to his mom.
When the long-awaited reconstruction of Holbrook Road was slated to get underway last year, First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis said Guerrera Construction noticed the cross on the tree and contacted town engineer Bryan Nesteriak, who in turn called Drugonis. The tree where Tuzik’s memorial was located had to be removed. Not wanting to remove the memorial without informing the family, Drugonis took to Facebook to find its owner.
Drugonis posted a message on July 28, 2022, asking if anyone knew who maintained the memorial. Drugonis explained that the redesign was geared to make Holbrook Road safer, and in the area where Tuzik’s memorial was, a steel guide rail was going to be installed.
Drugonis said the town did not want to disturb the memorial, but due to its location, had no choice. Drugonis said her goal was to find Tuzik’s family or friends to inform them of the situation and see about removing the memorial on a temporary basis.
A friend of Smerling’s saw Drugonis’ post that day and reached out to Smerling. A couple days later Drugonis met with Smerling to discuss replacing the memorial once the road project was complete.
The Holbrook project was wrapped up this past July. And on Sept. 9, Smerling, who now lives in Florida, gathered with Drugonis and other town officials for a re-dedication of her son’s memorial, which came with an added, surprise bonus.
Tuzik’
“With heart and soul of these fabulous people, they not only allowed me to put (the original memorial) back up, but they also included a “Drive Safely” sign, and a sign below it “In Memory of Brian Tuzik,” Smerling said. “I have never seen this done, but Seymour townspeople please know how much your government cares about all of you. As his mom, my heart is so full.”
Smerling said she will be forever grateful to Drugonis, along with Seymour Police Chief John Bucherati, Nesteriak, Selectman Fred Stanek and Guerrera Construction for allowing the memorial to go back to its original location, with the new signage.
“My heart and soul were filled that day with grace and appreciation,” Smerling said. “Brian will now be memorialized forever. If you find yourselves driving by, please say hi to Brian, and remember to always be safe.”
Drugonis said the sign, which cost $300 and was absorbed into the project budget, should serve as a reminder to every driver who passes by. She said Nesteriak installed the original cross on the new sign.
“The sign was put up to remind all of us that life is short, and we need to slow down and appreciate what we have,” Drugonis said. “We all have someone that cares about us and worries about us making it to our destination. Holbrook Road looks like a totally different road. I want to thank Karen Smerling for sharing the story of that night as well as his (Tuzik’s) life. We hope the sign reminds people to slow down. Your mom, dad, partner, kids, pets are all waiting for you at home.”
The $4.3 million Holbrook Road project was funded by federal grant money and included a complete redesign and reconstruction that featured utility relocation, drainage improvements, realignment, an improved snow shelf, improved sloping and guide rails, improved signage and significant tree work.
