Here is a more detailed article about the life of Nicholas Madaras as well
as a few photographs:
http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/article_8979.shtml
For those not able to access the above link, I've taken the time to post the
article below.
Sincerely,
Politico Rodrigues
A 'beloved son of Wilton' dies
Sep 7, 2006
Nicholas Madaras killed in action by roadside bomb
Shalini Madaras remembers her son Nicholas as a young man, swimming deep out
into the ocean on summer vacations, urging his mother to follow him ever
further out.
He was never afraid... he kept saying Cmon, Mom, lets keep going, she
said during an interview at her Signal Hill Road home on Wednesday.
Surrounded by friends for the past several days, the Madaras family is
groping with the loss of Mr. Madaras, age 19 and a member of the Wilton High
School class of 2005, who died in Iraq on Sunday, Sept. 3, when his Army
dismounted patrol was hit with an improvised explosive device in the town of
Baqubah. Along with his mother, Mr. Madaras leaves behind his father
William, a sister Marie, 17, a senior at Wilton High School, and a young
brother Christopher, 10, a fourth grader.
When he was home on leave early last month, Mr. Madaras told friends and
family he was looking forward to going to college and pursuing a medical
career when he got out of the Army.
After not being so successful in high school, I think he felt it was what
he needed to get his life on track quickly and definitely, said his father
on Wednesday about why his son chose to enlist. And he did. After a year in
the Army he knew who he was and what he was and what he wanted to do with
his life and he was very enthusiastic to get on with it.
Mr. Madaras had been given a target date to leave Iraq for the last time on
Oct. 24, days before his 20th birthday.
Mr. Madaras said his son was looking into several programs and educational
opportunities in which he could shorten his active duty time and enroll in
either a nursing of physicians assistant program, returning to the Army
after getting an education.
On Sunday, however, those dreams were tragically cut short and later that
night his family was notified by military personnel, escorted by Wilton
Police, of the death of Private First Class Nicholas Madaras, a member of
the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, Colo.
Mr. Madaras had enlisted in the Army shortly after graduation, and was sent
to Iraq in February. He was home on leave in late July before returning to
Iraq on Aug. 3.
Intense young man
Everyone who has spoken about Mr. Madaras in the days following his death
have described him as a quiet, yet intense young man who was dedicated to
his friends, family and soccer teammates.
Theres no way to properly describe him, said Tom Thresher of Heather
Lane, a close friend and former teammate of Mr. Madaras. As cliché as it
may be, Ive been around a lot of good people, good soldiers... he literally
was among the best. He was going to be a great lieutenant one day, he was
going to be a great father one day... he was one of the best people this
town has known.
A fierce competitor on the field, teammates and coaches described Nicholas
Madaras, pictured above in 2003, as one of the driving motivational forces
behind his team. Mr. Madaras played varsity soccer at Wilton High School in
his sophomore through senior years. He was killed Sunday in Iraq by an
improvised explosive device set off while his Army unit was completing a
patrol.J.B. Cozens photo
As the town joins in mourning the loss of Mr. Madaras First Selectman
William Brennan ordered all town flags lowered to half-staff, and a
dedication in Mr. Madaras honor is planned for Friday at 4 p.m. at Lilly
Field, the mens soccer teams first home game close friends have joined
the Madaras family in their home, stopping by to offer comfort and to share
remembrances of the young man.
He tried to get the best out of everybody and if he didnt, he saw it as
his failure, said Jim Lewicki, the mens soccer coach who knew Nick first
as a player and then as a team manager. He was the type of person who felt
if he failed, everything was wrong.
Jim Cook, who coached Mr. Madaras in his sophomore through senior years,
said as a player Mr. Madaras was always intense and ready to play.
You never had to worry about getting him up for a game, he said. The
biggest fact was that he was a great kid who wanted to do his part and
more.
Coach Lewicki remembers one game in Mr. Madaras sophomore year when he
showed up to the game wearing cosmetic contact lenses, lenses that made his
eyes look a very light shade of blue with only a small dot in the center
where the pupil would normally be. He said, Coach, its intimidating.
Were going to dedicate the season to Nick and were going to try to do
something at our first home game on Friday to honor his memory, said coach
Lewicki.
Tim Canty, principal at Wilton High School, also taught Mr. Madaras in the
sixth grade.
When I think back to his middle school days, I remember ... a somewhat
quiet and reserved, kid, said Mr. Canty. But he knew he was working hard
and enjoying life.
We were certainly proud of the way he finished his career here at Wilton
High School in 2005, he said. I remember Nick as someone who cared deeply
about others. That theme of serving and caring was part of the reason that
eventually led to his decision to enlist into the United States Army.
Dann Pompa, Mr. Madaras guidance counselor at Wilton High School, said he
remembers a young man with a dynamic smile and such a great personality.
He had the desire to take the responsibility for all aspects in life, said
Mr. Pompa. He seemed at time he was wiser than his years.
Mr. Thresher, who himself is in an ROTC program at Sienna College, said Mr.
Madaras was considering entering a similar program, shortening his four-year
tour and getting an education. He said he had known Mr. Madaras since the
two were eight or nine years old and there wasnt anyone else he would rely
on more on the field or off.
He played left fullback and I played left midfield, so I always knew I had
him behind me, said Mr. Thresher. He wasnt the quickest player, or the
best technically, but I wouldnt have had anyone else behind me, because
when that 80th minute in the game came, he was there to push the team
forward.
I remember one game, after we lost, everyone was walking off Lilly Field
and I looked back and he was running sprints, said Mr. Thresher.
Making a difference
Ms. Madaras said the type of man her son was could be seen by how he treated
others, his love for children and art, and his willingness to put the needs
of others before his own.
He was an incredibly generous person with his time and his life, she said.
Mr. Madaras, right, despite being thousands of miles away, was in constant
contact via e-mail from Iraq with his friends and family. He is pictured
here in this family photo with his younger brother Christopher, age 10, and
sister Marie, 17, as well as his two dogs Jake and Elwood.
When Ms. Madaras was organizing the youth soccer program for the Wilton
Soccer Association, she often turned to her son for help.
There were a couple of times when we would fall short of a coach and I
would say Nick, are you free? and hed say No, and Id say OK, heres
your roster, and hed take it and call all of the kids and give up his
Saturday night, she said. He had such a good way with kids.
Mr. Madaras even coached his younger brother, Christopher, who Ms. Madaras
said thought of him as a great coach, but strict, but one who knew how to
make the game fun for his players.
There were some kids who were going to quit soccer and after he coached
them he gave them and their parents confidence that they could play travel
soccer, she said. At the end of the season nobody knew what the score was,
how many games they won or lost they just had a good time.
Ms. Madaras said her son was dedicated to his service in the Army and
expressed his desire to head back to Iraq while on leave last month.
He knew what he was going back to and never once hesitated, she said. All
he said was Im guilty, because they are there and Im here and Im not
there to back them up.
A memorial service for Mr. Madaras is being planned for sometime within the
next three to five days. Mr. Madaras body was expected to arrive at the air
force base in Dover, Del., on Wednesday night and would then be escorted
back to Wilton by his roommate and close friend from the Army.
A Web site for posting remembrances of Mr. Madaras and condolences to his
family has been created by a cousin in Australia: www.nicholasmadaras.com.
The Wilton Soccer Association is also working on the creation of a
scholarship in his name.
Mr. Brennan has ordered all town flags to be lowered to half-staff in
respect for the loss of this beloved son of Wilton, and Gov. M. Jodi Rell
ordered the flags at the state Capitol lowered to honor both Mr. Madaras and
Lance Corporal Philip A. Johnson of Enfield, who was killed in Ramadi, Iraq
,on Sunday. Three Connecticut troops have died in Iraq in the past nine
days.
Updates on memorial services and other information will be posted online at
www.wiltonbulletin.com as it becomes available.
Additional reporting Robin Walluck
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