Local Hero Remembered as Loving Man

TIFFANY TOMPKINS-CONDIE
Jason DeMarzian's sister, Tara, and son, Noah, are comforted by aunt Cathy Tierney the day after Jason was killed on his motorcycle while chasing a robber in Tampa.--photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie/ttompkins@bradenton.com

By CARL MARIO NUDI
cnudi@bradenton.com
MANATEE --It wasn't out of character for Jason DeMarzian to go out of his way to help someone.

"He was always there when someone needed him," said his aunt, Cathy Tierney.

DeMarzian died Wednesday, trying to help a woman who was robbed outside a Tampa drugstore.

"He took my son in when he needed a place to stay," Tierney said Thursday, as she gathered with other family members and friends at the Oneco home of the 25-year-old house painter's father, Richard DeMarzian.

Tara DeMarzian said her brother was in Tampa for a doctor's appointment when he stopped at the drugstore about 1:30 p.m.

A woman was leaving the pharmacy on Hillsborough Avenue when a man tore the prescription pills she just picked up out of her hands, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office report.

The man jumped into a waiting four-door Honda and the driver, a blond woman, sped out of the parking lot.

DeMarzian saw the robbery take place and pursued the Honda on his 2001 Suzuki motorcycle.
As he sped down Hillsborough Avenue in pursuit of the Honda, the driver of a Ford Explorer pulled in front of him.

The motorcyclist died at the scene of the collision.

The robbery investigation is continuing, according to Debbie Carter, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office.

"We're still looking for the two suspects," Carter said.

The male suspect was described as between 20 and 30 years old, standing 6-foot, 2-inches tall, and weighing 185 pounds, with a beard. He was wearing a blue dress shirt, jeans and a blue hat.

The female driver of the tan four-door Honda was described as standing 5-feet, 5-inches tall, weighing 130 pounds, wearing a white shirt and shorts.

Carter said she would not comment on whether there would be additional charges filed in the death of DeMarzian.

"I just spent four hours talking with him the night before," said his sister, Tara DeMarzian. "We were joking around.

"My son asked him if he can sit on his motorcycle, and he said, 'No, motorcycles are dangerous.' "
Bicycles, a children's car seat and toys were scattered around the screened porch of the mobile home in DeSoto Mobile Home Estates, 1219 51st Ave. E., as Tara DeMarzian and Jason's aunts talked Thursday about their loss.

They said their brother and nephew was a very loving person, especially with his son, 4-year-old Joshua.

"He tried to support his son the best he could," said his aunt, Carol Mardello.

Working in the construction industry had been hard the past year, but Jason DeMarzian had a list of clients he would work for on a regular basis.

"Jason provided everything his son needed or wanted," Mardello said.

Joshua's mother, Jen Hernandez, said DeMarzian would do anything for her and their son.
"He would never say no," Hernandez said.

Reached at his Cocoa Beach home, J.C. Lake said his friend of about 13 years was "a great dad."

"He never spanked, never talked in a loud voice to his son," Lake said. "He gave him everything he wanted."

Lake, who went to Braden River Middle School and Southeast High School with DeMarzian, said his friend was always willing to "put out extra hard for anybody."

"Jason would help you out anyway he could," he said.

The DeMarzians moved to Bradenton from Long Island, N.Y., in 1989. Tara DeMarzian said she remembers growing up with her younger brother.

"I'm 18 months older than him, but he would call me his little sister," she said.
Her brother was a very positive person, too.

"He would always say, 'Don't worry. Everything's going to be OK'," Tara DeMarzian said as she continued to wipe tears from her reddened eyes.

Family was very important to Jason DeMarzian, said his friend, Ruben Hernandez.

"He always told me how much he loved his dad and sister," Hernandez said. "He also took care of his mom a lot."

Hernandez, who is not related to Jen Hernandez, said DeMarzian "was all about taking care of his baby's mom."

DeMarzian did not have any life insurance and the family opened a trust fund at SunTrust Bank at 109 44th Ave. W. for his son.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

That was the article printed about the accident that I discussed earlier in this blog.