Wall Township Brothers Remembered In Two Vigils

As friends and family gathered Thursday night at the home of Michael and Steven Dushnick for a candelight vigil in honor of the brothers killed earlier in a car crash, a similar service was being held in Pennsylvania where one of the pair attended college.

A nighttime service was called in a chapel at Gettysburg College -- the small liberal arts college where Michael Dushnick pursued a degree in political science.

Julie Ramsey, Gettysburg Dean of Students, in an email to the entire student body said Dushnick’s untimely death was being felt throughout the campus.

“As some of you know, a tragedy occurred earlier today involving a Gettysburg student, Michael Dushnick '14, who was killed in a car accident near his home in New Jersey, along with his brother,” the email says. “Please keep Michael and his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. Our tight-knit community is grieving for this loss.” 

Michael and his brother, Steven Dushnick, both of Birch Place, were killed when their 2000 Honda Odyssey hit a tree outside 2386 Ramshorn Dr. around 4:27 a.m. Thursday. The two were pronounced dead at the scene, authorities have said.

Michael Dushnick, the driver of the Odyssey, was traveling south on Ramshorn Drive at Paynters Road, crossed over into the oncoming lane, left the road and hit a tree head-on, Wall Police Sgt. Chad Clark said.

Michael Dushnick, a former wrestler and lacrosse player, graduated from Wall High School in 2009. At Gettysburg, he was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and member of the Rugby team, according to Ramsey.

Steven attended St. Rose High School but later transferred to Wall High School, where he graduated in 2006. He attended The Culinary Institute of America and until recently worked at Old Man Rafferty’s in Asbury Park.

Rachael Web, a manager at Rafferty's, remembered him as a good worker and a talented employee. Web said he left the restaurant to form his own company making portioned out meals for people on the go. 

“He would make healthy meals for people who didn’t have the time to eat right,’’ Web said.

Wall Police encourage anyone that witnessed or has knowledge of the crash to contact Sgt. Clark of the Wall Police Department: 732-449-4500, or the tips line at 732-280-4288.

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