Survivors shine light on the darkness of addiction 

Gina Kraus’s son Evan was 36 when he died in March 2020 of a drug overdose, an unimaginable tragedy that transformed a diminutive mother and teacher into a fearless, indefatigable leader. That same year, she founded the Vigil of Hope, a community gathering to shine a bright light on the serious problem of addiction.  

The Community Embraces the Vigil

In August 2021, Islander Swainson Brown, chef at The Pridwin, along with five residents of Southold and Greenport, died of overdoses over one weekend from cocaine laced with fentanyl.

Shelter Islanders learned just how widespread and deadly addiction was in their community. This year’s sixth Vigil of Hope comes amid a significant reduction in the number of deaths both on Shelter Island and nationally and shows the tide finally turning, with more help and hope to offer than ever before.

The first five Vigils were held outdoors on the basketball courts at Fiske Field, but with rain threatening on Aug. 27, the event moved indoors and 120 people packed the house at the Community Center. Sponsored by the Shelter Island Health & Wellness Committee, the Island’s Police Department, Shelter Island Public Library and HUGS, Inc. the Vigil began on time despite the last-minute change of venue.

Ms. Kraus, who is also a member of the Health & Wellness Committee, opened the program by naming and honoring the struggles of her son Evan, and the six people, Navid Ahmadzadeh, Mr. Brown, Fausto Rafael Herrera Campos, Nicole Eckardt, Matthew Lapiana, and Seth Tramontana, who died on a August day in 2021.

Ms. Kraus assembled a panel of speakers who addressed the reality of addiction from multiple perspectives; one whose family members and friends did not survive, one who is many-years-sober, and two newly sober. She spoke of how powerful the words of those who have struggled with the disease of addiction can be in helping others, “When they share those experiences, their words can make a difference between life and death.”

Stories that ‘Shine a Light’ on Addiction Past and Present

In the shadow of death, there was celebration of life and laughter. Introducing Peter Waldner, Ms. Kraus emphasized the courage of this “gentle giant” to speak up about the reality of addiction, while she struggled, as everyone laughed,  to get the mic high enough to reach the very tall Mr. Waldner. Mr. Waldner, the Reporter’s award-winning cartoonist, spoke of the effects of alcoholism and addiction in his life.

He described losing a dear friend who died from a fall while drinking just before he was to be married. “I was supposed to be in his wedding party,” Mr. Waldner said. “Instead, I was a pallbearer.”

All around him were friends who became addicted, and Mr. Waldner said he quit when his children were young when so many friends could not. “It’s so important to separate illness from the person.”

Jenna Reylek said she began using alcohol when she was 14, and as the child of addicts, felt the effects of their addiction on the family, even as she struggled with her own addiction. She recounted “a 25-year relationship with alcohol, jail and homelessness that ended almost two years ago when she began to reach for sobriety. For Ms. Reylek and her married partner, Zachary Reylek, sobriety is something new and with it came a willingness to share their stories in case they can help someone else.

“I wanted to be part of life,” Ms. Reylek said. “When you’re an addict, you don’t feel like you are part of it”

When she decided to get sober, she did so with the help of “the wonderful police of Shelter Island.” Ms. Reylek described how a Shelter Island police officer spent their day off driving her and Mr. Reylek to two separate detox programs. She also credited her Catholic faith, supported and encouraged by Father Peter DeSanctis of Our Lady of the Isle, and a local 12-step program that meets six days a week to support her and her husband.

Encouraged by his wife, Zachary Reylek decided to speak in public of his private struggles over many years with addiction. “You know,” he told the gathering, ‘when my wife first agreed to do this, I didn’t know how I felt about it, because this is a public forum, and once something is said, it can’t be taken back. I think more about my words. But this is a positive event, and if we can be the source of hope for even one person…”

“This disease is real. It is a disease.” Mr. Reylek added. “You never know who, it doesn’t discriminate.” He said that sometimes people with the disease of addiction are asked why they use drugs when they know that they are hurting their family.

Mr. Reylek said, “When you’re in the thrall of it, you don’t have a rational outlook. You may not truly understand the damage to yourself and to your loved ones, and your community.” He also recognized the difficulty of helping an addicted person until they reach a point of wanting to change their lives.

“My wife and I became sober on the same day. That’s kind of miraculous … It truly is a miracle that we are both standing up here, sober, alive, because I really tried very hard to not be here. And I know a lot of people who are no longer with us.”

Trent Firestine introduced himself as “a grateful recovering alcoholic,” adding, “I don’t remember the first time I drank, but I do remember the last.” It was 20 years ago, and during that time Mr. Firestine has built a business and a reputation on fitness and health. 

More than one speaker touched on the role of faith in the recovery of some with the disease of addiction. The Rev. Dr. Steve Adkison of the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church offered a prayer, “We remember those who died from overdose, each one a sacred life, each one with a name, a story, people who love them and people they love … Give them strength for today, courage, for tomorrow, and people who will walk beside them … Bless our Shelter Island community. May we be the kind of community where no one has to suffer alone.”

The last part of the evening was devoted to shining a light on resources that are available on Shelter Island to prevent addiction, support addicted people, and keep them alive. Nancy Green of the Wellness Committee spoke of the factors responsible for lowering the numbers of deaths from addiction, such as education, and increased availability of Narcan. 

Jackie Kanarvogel, director of education and training at HUGS, a youth substance use prevention and community wellness agency, spoke of the many services they provide in the fight against addiction, including Narcan training, outdoor retreats and a conference for student leaders who could influence fellow students at risk. She also described their collaboration with THRIVE, a peer-led recovery and outreach center. 

Ms. Kanarvogel spoke of the strength and dedication of Ms. Kraus to the cause of helping to prevent addiction, and support those who are affected, so that they may live to manage the disease. She pointed out that of all the East End communities served by HUGS, Shelter Island shows the strongest community support for preventing addiction and supporting those with the disease. She thanked School Principal and Superintendent Brian Doelger, Ed.D. and teacher Janine Mahoney, who helped identify Shelter Island high school students to participate in a leadership conference at the Rams Head Inn this year. 

“Working with those teens is really one of the loves of my life,” Ms. Mahoney said. “They give me so much hope.”