This past Friday, Feb. 9, P.S. I Love You Day celebrated its 14th anniversary in more than 100 communities across New York state.

Jaimie and Brooke DiPalma, along with their family, established P.S. I Love You Day in 2010 to commemorate the memory of their father and all individuals lost to suicide in New York. The inspiration for this meaningful day stems from the last three words spoken by their father, “I Love You.”

A former New York Police Department officer, ex-chief of the West Islip Fire Department, and president of his local chamber of commerce, Joseph DiPalma, Jr. was an active, dedicated and respected member of his community. As Joseph dropped his 14-year-old daughter Brooke off to school, he said, “I love you.” Just a few hours later, Brooke was pulled from her class and learned that her father had committed suicide.

Following the devastating loss of her father, Brooke started a club at her school to combat bullying and raise awareness for suicide........

© The Saratogian