Daniel Perelman, pilot who died in Wauwatosa plane crash, laid to rest
BROOKFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A painful goodbye to Daniel Perelman, the 18-year-old pilot whose small plane went down in a Wauwatosa backyard, was laid to rest today, on Thursday, June 2.
By all accounts, this young man had a bright future, a perfect ACT score, ambition to be an orthopedic surgeon studying at Northwestern, and just a beautiful soul, loved by many for his kindness.
Daniel Perelman's kindness is what those who loved him won't soon forget.
"I don't know why you were taken so soon and I won't ever understand, but I know the impact you had on me and everyone's life," said Lola Perelman, Daniel's sister.
The funeral at Mound Cemetery was a heartbreaking scene. Under blue skies, students from Chicago, families from Brookfield Academy and others feeling blue, shared hugs and tears.
"There's definitely been a lot of pain, a lot of hurt and I just want to be there too, I want to support them the best I can," said Andrew Kupfer, Northwestern University student.
An act of kindness he is doing as part of the deeds for the Daniel.com campaign, started in this young pilot's honor.
"Besides making the world a better place, it's going to allow Daniel's life to continue here on this earth," said Rabbi Mandy Weg, Northwestern Chabad.
At 2:56 p.m., there was a special remembrance, a flyover, at he exact moment of Daniel's last ascent, one week apart.
"His father just wept when he thought of that, what an emotional thing," said Diane McGeen, Chabad Jewish Center of Waukesha County.
The Perelman family was wearing Northwestern University gear, the color purple recognized for Daniel.
"What a good soul, I get to have him for 18 years, but I guess he was needed elsewhere in the universe so my superman had to fly," said Ana Perelman Daniel's mother.
The heartbreaking cries of a mother as her 18 year old son is carried in More on the funeral of Daniel Perelman @CBS58 pic.twitter.com/FxoQNTCHjn
— Michele Fiore (@michelehana) June 2, 2022
Daniel Perelman’s sister: I know how many lives you’ve touched and how many you will continue to touch More on the funeral @CBS58 pic.twitter.com/D2qSArMNnC
— Michele Fiore (@michelehana) June 2, 2022
Following words of remembrance, one last goodbye.
"Everyone who got to meet Daniel in any capacity shared that they could feel from his gentle eyes and smile that he genuinely cared for them," said Rabbi Levi Brook, Chabad Jewish Center of Waukesha County.
The hallway Chabad Jewish Center of Waukesha County is now filled with messages of hope. People who have signed on to deeds for Daniel.com.
Walking down that hallway at the Jewish Center was very powerful. Every wall was filled with acts of kindness -- and the Chabad community is asking others to keep the movement by encouraging others to sign too.
Daniel's family and friends are asking people to take on a positive deed of goodness and kindness in memory of the teen.
Close to 1,000 deeds have been done in memory of Daniel.