Wings of Hope
 Shelton Butterfly Project
June 13, 2010
On November 20th, 2009 Viviana Rose Cavalli was killed in a car accident which also claimed the life of her boyfriend, and injured her best friend. The community in Shelton, which is a tight knit, and incredibly supportive community came together to support the families of the children involved in the crash. Only a short time later, the Tutka and Cavalli families still find themselves grieving the loss of their bright and vibrant daughter Viviana who was taken from this world way before her time.
Viviana Rose Cavalli
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In the Nov. 20, 2009, crash, Cavalli was a passenger in the front seat, and an investigation showed the driver, Cavalli’s boyfriend, Lawrence Morra, 19, of Stratford, had a blood alcohol level at 0.13. The legal limit for an individual under 21 is 0.02, and for those over 21, 0.08. Morra also died, while a backseat passenger, Kassandra Dimas, 18, of Shelton, survived.
In honor of the life of Viviana and others who been killed in these type of accidents, her mother Dee, and other community leaders came together to form the Shelton Butterfly project. A memorial foundation in the name of Viviana to not only help prevent a tragedy like this from happening again, but to provide two $2,500 scholarships to Shelton High School seniors in memory of Viviana who graduated herself from Shelton High School in 2009. A Memorial Butterfly Garden will also be established to remember Viviana and all those who have died in drunk driving accidents.
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Viviana Rose Cavalli
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A donation of 75 Painted Lady Butterflies was made to the Shelton Butterfly Project. The butterfly release was held to raise funds to support a Scholarship Fund established in memory of Viviana Rose Cavalli and others who lost their lives in drunk driving accidents. Another several hundred butterflies were sold to raise funds for the two scholarships and was successful. A beautiful ceremony and butterfly garden dedication was held at the Shelton Riverwalk in Shelton, Connecticut on June 13, 2010. With each release, the name of the person whose memory they were being released in was read. The town graciously designated land to establish this habitat for butterflies. The donor of the butterflies wishes to remain anonymous.
A memorial still stands at the scene where Larry Morra, 19, of Stratford crashed his Honda Civic off exit 13 of Route 8 in Shelton. His girlfriend, Shelton native Viviana Cavalli, 18, was also killed in the crash. The accident happened on November 20, 2009, this is the scene on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010.
< Click for enlargement
 Photo: Phil Noel / Connecticut Post
(Used with permission)
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