For Slater and Kai, in memory of their father Rob

Last Friday my neighbor and friend Rob Prestininzi, father of two boys Slater and Kai and husband to Briana, died in a plane crash. His family, friends and many of us who live in the Baxter community are left trying to process this loss and figure out a way to move forward without him.

 

Rob was a wonderful husband and proud father to Slater (10) and Kai (4 weeks old). On most mornings you likely saw he and Slater walking to school in the mornings. The two were almost always holding hands and were often engaged in deep conversation. I always admired their relationship. Last month, Rob and Bri celebrated Kai’s birth and were overjoyed to be a family of four.

 

In addition to being a wonderful father and husband, Rob’s other passions included running and flying planes. In addition to participating in countless marathons, he has also ran close to twenty 100 mile races around the country including one in Hawaii. His favorite was a race he did in the mountains of Patagonia in South America! The last time I saw Rob was he and Slater running together the day before his accident. His passion for flying planes was obvious. There was always a smile on his face when he was talking about a recent trip, or about a new student that he was training. The memories of Rob Prestininzi will forever serve as a reminder to us all to live every day with passion, love, and understanding because we are not promised tomorrow.

 

While I am processing this loss in my own way, it is nothing compared to the journey Rob’s wife Briana and their sons Slater and Kai have ahead of them. If you’ve lived in this community for any period of time, you’ve likely been touched in some way by this wonderful family. Because of this, so many people have asked what they can do to support Bri, Slater and Kai as they navigate this incredibly challenging time.

 

Baxter is know for being “a village.”. We look out for each other, and support each other through both good times and hard times. Today, I’d like to ask you to help me show support for Briana and her family. Please consider donating to this GoFundMe. 100% of the funds raised will be used specifically for Slater’s and Kai’s future and college educations. No amount donated is too little. We welcome anything you feel led to give.

 

Thank you for stepping up to support Bri and her two boys. If you have a neat story about how Rob or his family have touched your life, or just have a message of support to let them know that we are here now and always, please leave a comment below.

 

 

We thank you.