March 28, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

This is in regard to the “Living the tale of love and death” article printed in the Nov. 25 issue concerning the relationship of Barbara Ouellette to the death of Thomas Maki.

We were outraged with this article that indicated a love triangle. How could there be love between Barbie and Tommy? They only met six days before Tommy’s tragic death, so how could Tommy’s death involve him as a part of this love story?

We feel terrible for Barbie who apparently liked Tommy and was looking forward to their date set for Sept. 11 that was never to be due to Tommy’s death. We are sure Barbie has been traumatized after the conclusion of that evening, but we feel that her victim role has turned Tommy’s death into a media soap opera. Our hearts go out to the victims behind the scene:

Rosemarie and Gary Maki, who have lost their eldest son and try to live day to day with a parent’s worst nightmare.

Derek Maki has lost his only brother, who was also his best friend.

Shannon and Amy Maki who, like Derek, love their brother Tommy very much and looked forward to his visits home for the holidays.

Arlene and James Picanzo have lost their first grandson whose last words to them were “Bye Gramma, bye Pa, see you on Thanksgiving.”

Tom and Bonnie Maki, who are left only with photos and memories of the wonderful young man their grandson had become.

The list goes on and on: aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, roommates, classmates, and all of Tommy’s friends from the University of Maine Fort Kent.

So we apologize for feeling the way we do toward this article, but the list we have just written above touches us far too much to carry all our sympathy to a young lady who hardly knew Tommy. Our lives changed forever. Let us now concentrate on who Tommy was and what he meant to us rather than concentrating on who is the victim here. Roxanne Young and James Picanzo III Fairhaven, Mass.


Have feedback? Want to know more? Send us ideas for follow-up stories.

comments for this post are closed

You may also like