Wake for Tom Cutinella draws hundreds

A hushed line of mourners wrapped around a Wading River church Sunday afternoon, all waiting to attend the wake for high school football player Tom Cutinella, who died Wednesday after collapsing during a game.

Some at the wake, like the 16-year-old's cousin, Susan Grimm, of Westbury, said "he was beautiful."

Others, like Mount Sinai football coach Vinnie Ammirato, said he brought 13 of his players to the wake because "it's a football family. We're here to support the family, the players and the Shoreham community."

More than 500 students, teachers, family and community members attended the wake at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church to honor No. 54 on the Shoreham-Wading River Wildcats football team. It followed by just three days a moving candlelight memorial service on the same football fields where he was a gritty offensive guard and linebacker.

Cutinella, a junior and the oldest of four siblings, was pronounced dead Wednesday night at Huntington Hospital, several hours after he collided with an opposing player during an afternoon game in Elwood.

He fell to the ground after the play, briefly got up and then collapsed. Cutinella sustained a head injury, police said.

James Gerardi, 17, a teammate who was also playing in the game against John Glenn High School Wednesday, said Cutinella "was the best kid to ever walk onto the Shoreham football field. . . . He was always kind. He was always respectful and did what the coaches asked him to do."

The wake Sunday started at 4 p.m. but there was already a line of more than a hundred people outside the church a half-hour before. Buses had taken mourners to the church from parking lots at nearby schools, as police directed traffic.

Adults and students greeted each other with hugs as they waited in line.

A friend of Cutinella collapsed to his knees in tears after leaving the church before friends put their arms around him.

At 7 p.m., a large line remained outside the church, where photos of Cutinella sat perched on easels. His coffin was inside.

Dozens of football players from other Long Island high schools attended in their team jerseys.

Ammirato called what happened to Cutinella "unimaginable. It's a true tragedy."

Another visitation will be at the church from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Monday.

The church is at 1488 North Country Rd. A funeral Mass will be offered there at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

A scholarship in Cutinella's memory has been established through The Shoreham-Wading River Wildcat Athletic Club. Donations can be made at swrwac.org