Michelle’le Sanders painting the face of Robert’s little sister Nadia, who misses Rob being annoying.
Marshall Cruz Photos
It was a beautiful day Saturday — perfect for the second annual Back To School Giveaway honoring the memory of Robert Faulk-Dill. The 21-year-young father of one was savagely gunned down on porch of his grandmother’s home on June 24, 2018.
“We’re doing this to honor my son,” said Nikki Dill, Robert’s mother and the event’s organizer. “He loved children. He was a camp counselor; he was always trying to help single parent families and education was very important to him. We also wanted to help out our communit,y because we know it can get hard, especially in a single parent household.”
Blocked-off Maple Street (between Ellsworth Avenue and Ella Grasso Boulevard) was alive with music and summer’s signature scent of charcoal burning on the grill. Children were daredevils in a bouncy house, which sat across from a face-painting stand and a stand for a clothing giveaway.
Along with the intoxicating smell of cheeseburgers and hotdogs was the sweet saucy smell of fried dough (served with marinara or fruit) and deep-fried Oreos courtesy of Terrance Dill, Robert’s uncle.
The porch was lined with book bags, school supplies, prizes for a raffle, and photographs of Rob.
“This is straight out of our pockets.” Ms. Nikki said. “ We don’t have any grants or store donations. This was done by our family, our extended family and our church families,” Back to the Bible Outreach Center of Ansonia and Life Changing Outreach Ministry of North Haven.
As the street was full with people enjoying shaved ice and a performance from New Haven’s Nation Drill Squad and Drum Corps, Robert’s loved ones were enjoying his memory.
“Rob was loved by everybody,” said one participant who wished not to be named. “He would give you the shirt off of his back if he had to. He was a real good guy with a big heart. I really miss our talks, his sense of humor and the love.”
Courtney Wright on the grill.
“This is how he was. This is him, this is what he would do; he was always for his community, for his people … This is a reflection of him.”
“He inspired a lot of his cousins and friends,” recalled Sandra Dill, grandmother to the late Robert. She spoke of how he never missed his cousin Pooda’s basketball games and how he worked with his nephew Kamari to perfect Kamari’s basketball skills.
Bouncy house daredevils.
“He loved working with children and always looked out for his friends. I used to tell him ‘Noodie’” —Grandma Sandra’s affectionate nickname for Rob —“‘you can’t save the world.’ But he touched so many lives. He gave people a reason to keep going.”
Robert’s grandmother (who is a minister) was the one who found him after he was shot three times. She came downstairs, held him in her arms and instructed him in the way of her faith, as she always had, to call on the name of Jesus. Robert, after being shot in the head, look at his grandmother, nodded his head. and died in her arms.
“It hasn’t gotten any easier,” Rob’s mother shared. “Sometimes if I do smile I feel guilty because … how can a mother be happy when her son was murdered? It’s like a piece of your heart is gone and you have to learn to live without it. So, it hasn’t gotten much easier but, I’ve gotten better with dealing with it.”
Terrance, Nikki and Sandra Dill with Robert’s grandfather.
Ms. Nikki also said that the family has put together a “Pop Up Shop” geared toward fundraising where vendors will donate a portion of their earnings to the family in hopes of offering a reward for information in Robert’s murder.
Nikki Dill plans to continue the Back To School drive honoring her son Robert every year, making it bigger and better helping children and the community the way her son would. When asked if she thought her son would be proud of the work she is doing, Nikki responded, “I hope he is. This morning I woke up and asked to to be with us today, and I can definitely feel his presence.”