BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) — A Buffalo man was brutally attacked while traveling to Dublin, Ireland. Stephen Termini, 57, was assaulted by teenagers near Store Street Garda station.
The son said the father was in a coma from the beating and was at risk of losing an eye.
Family members say the father was saving up for a trip to Dublin.
His sons, Mike Rizzuto and Jesse Rizzuto, live in the Buffalo area. Mike Rizzuto told 7 News he was preparing his passport to Ireland so he could be with his father.
Rizto also set up a Gofundme page to help his father, calling it a “baseless attack.”
“This is a photo of my biological father (Stephen Termini) with me (Michael Rizzuto) and my brother ( Jesse Rizzuto ).When you get home from a tour with the band kiss candace I received word that there had been gratuitous attacks on my father by several people in 2008. Dublin, Ireland”Rizzuto wrote on the Gofundme page.
The son also said, “The brutal attack left my father in a coma with various injuries. I am told that he is now in critical condition and has life-altering injuries. I, along with everyone else, have received news of the situation through the media.”
Rizzuto has called on the community to send “healing vibes” to the father as the family works to learn more about the situation.
The Gofundme page also featured the following message from Termini’s sister Michele:
From my beloved sister Michelle
“My brother works in a galvanizing factory and[after losing his wife to illness last April]had saved every penny to pay for the trip. He had always dreamed of visiting Ireland. He was trying to follow our family from Dublin to the United States. As a child we were told that our grandfather Charles Wilsonwas a painter who painted the cathedral in Dublin. his mother, Anne Donnelly was from the county Mayo. Since it was difficult to find any traces of them from here, he thought that perhaps more could be learned in Ireland. Our mother’s last wish was to be buried in Ireland (2004). Although he was unable to attend the ceremony at the time, he longed to visit her final resting place. he has two sons Michael and jessie They were denied knowledge of their Irish heritage. My husband and I are recently retired nurses, working on the “front lines” of the COVID-19 pandemic. My brother has been traveling for a long time, so he didn’t worry about visiting Ireland. Steve’s love of music (we were a very musical family) and appreciation of the arts (thankfully) passed on to his children. In his dire situation, we feel so helpless because none of us can afford to travel with him. I understand that this unfortunate event may leave him with the loss of an eye and a lifelong disability. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. God bless you! “
Police in Dublin have arrested one of the boys involved in Sunday’s assault. He is out on bail and is scheduled to appear in children’s court later this week.
