Cousin of crash victim remembers his humor
There was never a dull moment when Tommy Shuler hung out with his cousins, Ronald “Ronnie” Parisi and Levi Deal, and their friend, Joshua Boettner.
Shuler said he was with the three on Saturday, June 8, before they were killed in a car crash at around 8 p.m. in Athens Township in Crawford County. He shared some thoughts on his family and friend during a vigil for the three Sunday evening at Christ’s Family Church in Chicora. He said he and Parisi had a close bond as cousins.
“It was always fun with them,” Shuler said. “We always said we were each other’s favorite cousins and stuff, and I always looked up to him.”
According to state police, Parisi, 21, of Chicora, Boettner, 19, and Levi, 17, both from Butler died when their vehicle crashed into a tree just after 8 p.m.
Police said Parisi was driving the 2008 Scion TC on Centerville Road west of Parker Hill Road in Athens Township, and traveled south off the road before crashing into a tree. Parisi and a passenger were found dead in the vehicle, and the passenger in the back seat was ejected from the vehicle, and was also found dead at the scene.
In the crash report, police listed safety equipment for each person in the vehicle as “none used/not applicable.”
John Pistorius, pastor of Christ’s Family Church, said the Sunday gathering came together in just a few hours, after he was asked to host a vigil at the church. The church filled up with people at 7 p.m. Sunday, many of them family and friends of the crash victims.
Following some words and prayer from Pistorius, people in attendance were invited to share thoughts and feelings about Parisi, Boettner and Levi. One of the first to speak was Ursula Parisi, Ronnie Parisi’s stepmom. She said their family was spending the weekend together in Crawford County for a dirt bike event, which the three were involved in.
“We had so much fun that weekend,” Ursula Parisi said. “They’re amazing, amazing people. All three of them, just amazing boys. I can’t even believe it.”
Ronnie Parisi and Boettner were known as class clowns in their time at Butler Senior High School. Kylie Friez, a cousin of Parisi, said her cousin was a sociable person throughout his life.
“They were all really outgoing, always able to make everyone laugh if they could,” Friez said Sunday. “That was absolutely everywhere; (Parisi) was always like the class clown almost.”
Brianna Bell said she was close with Boettner’s family, and told those gathered in the church Sunday that some of his family could not make it to the vigil, but they appreciated the initiative. Bell said Boettner was like a brother to her.
“From about the ages of 3 to I’d say 14 or 15, the longest time we spent apart was when one of us went on vacation,” Bell said. “He was like a second son to my parents.”
Shuler said he spent the previous weekend with Ronnie Parisi in Cook Forest State Park, which are memories he won’t forget about his cousin.
“We grew up together at my dad’s house and my grandma’s house, and I wish it didn’t happen,” Shuler said. “My mom gave him a beer and we were in Cook Forest and he put it in a hockey cup, and he was … taking off his shirt and stuff. It was a great time with him.”
State police and the Center Township Volunteer Fire Department responded to the crash. Investigation of the crash is ongoing, according to police.
