Victims of East Haven Plane Crash Memorialized

On Thursday morning, students, staff and family members of Joseph Melillo Middle School met to dedicate a memorial bench in honor of Sade Brantley, a middle school student who, along with her baby sister, Madisyn, were killed in a tragic accident on August 9, 2013 when a plane crashed into their house. 

Sade would have been an eighth-grade student at Joseph Melillo Middle School this year. The memorial was inspired by JMMS classmates of Sade who wished to remember her in a special way.  

The bench symbolizes renewal and hope as it was restored from a state of disrepair and neglect, states a press release written by Joseph Vita, a teacher.  

Students worked throughout the winter painting and refurbishing the bench, which displays a plaque memorializing Sade. 

The bench was installed in the Marie Carbo Memorial Courtyard at JMMS for use by students and staff.  

Sade’s mother, Joanna Mitchell, as well as other family members and friends were on hand as students read tributes and posed for a group picture on the Bench as a light rain fell.