09/10/2026
The Connections community is heartbroken by the loss of Marcell, a beloved young mentee who grew up in our program. Marcell passed away Tuesday evening at just 17 years old in a tragic accident. His future was bright. He was adored by his friends and family, and he was curious, creative, funny, and kind.
Marcell joined Connections at 13, looking for a ābig brother figureā who could help him manage his anger, teach him to dunk a basketball, and show him how to do a wheelie on his bike. His grandmother hoped a mentor would earn his respect, help keep him out of trouble, and support him in staying safely at home. In 2022, Marcell was matched with Taio, a young mentor who shared his love of biking and wrote on his application that he was eager to āgive back and learn from a young person.ā
Over nearly five years together, Taio and Marcell shared countless joyful moments. At first, Marcell was hesitant about some of Taioās outing ideas. But as trust grew and Marcell became more comfortable being his authentic self, they began doing everything together. They saw Alvin Ailey, traveled upstate for therapeutic horseback riding lessons, visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., and cheered on the New York Liberty at WNBA games. They were scheduled to run their first 5K together in just a few weeks.
Taio became the big brother Marcell had asked for. Nothing was too inconvenient when it came to supporting Marcell and his grandmother. Marcellās grandmother once told us that Taio was the reason their family was able to stay together. Taio wanted Marcell to experience the fullness of life, and he helped give him that. When we spoke with Taio this week, he was preparing to accompany Marcellās grandmother to identify Marcellās body at the morgue. Family.
Taio is raising funds to help Marcellās family with funeral and memorial expenses and the unexpected costs of saying goodbye to a loved one. No family is prepared for the loss of someone so young. Together, we hope to give Marcellās family the space to grieve, honor his memory, and support one another without carrying the full financial burden during this painful time.
