Michael Brown, a 2008 graduate of Greenport High School, was set to graduate in 2012, according to his Facebook page. He was born with cerebral palsy and used a wheelchair some of the time, although he could walk.
Despite his troubles, teachers said, he never felt sorry for himself.
He enjoyed basketball and television and had hopes of one day attending Harvard, Mr. Brown told the Greenport High School newspaper, The Quill, in a feature story published about him in 2005, when he was 16.
Police say Mr. Brown was driving a 2000 Ford Focus south on Route 63 near Wildwood Lake Bowl about 7:40 a.m. when he entered the Route 51 intersection and was struck by a northbound Suffolk Transit bus, which was being driven by John Bravata, 56, of Ronkonkoma. Mr. Brown died at the scene.
Hundreds of people have since called him an inspiration on two Facebook fan pages dedicated to his memory.
"You always brought a smile to anyone who saw u, R.I.P. Mike you will be terribly missed," one poster said. "You were [truly] an inspiration to everyone who had the honor of knowing you and loving you. I know [you're] up in heaven now smiling at all of us," another said.
In the 2005 article, Mr. Brown told the school newspaper that he had nothing but love for the people in Greenport.
"I'm happy people think of me as their inspiration. I look at all the students as inspiration," he told The Quill.
Greenport Superintendent Michael Comanda said that although Mr. Brown had been out of the school for a year and a half, students and faculty were still shaken over his loss. Mr. Comanda said students would be offered grief counseling as Mr. Brown had befriended many students and teachers over the years.
"He was a very special, unique young man who gave of himself," Mr. Comanda said. "The guy could brighten your darkest day."
Scott Loper of Mattituck, who was on his way to class at the college's eastern campus, was several cars behind Mr. Brown, waiting to merge with Route 51's southbound lanes, when the crash happened.
He said Mr. Brown had attempted to make a right onto Route 51 when the bus, which he estimated was traveling at least 50 mph, hit him. The cars in front of him stopped and a few people began dialing 911, he said. "People were just sitting at the stop sign because they didn't know what to do," he said.
There were 15 people on the bus including the driver, none of whom were seriously injured. The passengers were taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead and Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue, Southampton police said.
Route 51 was closed for about four hours during the investigation. No charges have been filed.
vchinese@timesreview.com
Excerpted from Michael Brown's 2008 senior yearbook:
Quote:
"With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of integrity." -- Keshavan Nair
Favorite School Memory:
When the boys basketball team went to Glens Falls.
Will:
Mr. Mac -- I leave my crown because you are the King of Greenport High School. Ms. Taylor -- I say "keep you hair tight. Karre Brown all the way!
Mr. Comanda -- stop hating on my suits because you know I'm lookin' good come prom time.
JG -- you got all my love.
Ms. Douglass -- your cinnamon swirl cakes are the bomb yo:
Ryan Creighton -- many more trips to Glens Falls. Bring us back the championship.
To the rest of my class -- many get-togethers at King Mike's and the thought, "If I can make it, so can you."