The Solon community and the wider circle of the Italian Club are mourning the heartbreaking loss of Niko Higashi, the beloved 4-year-old grandson of longtime Solon Italian Club member Angelo Finelli.
Niko passed away in a tragic accident, leaving behind grieving parents, heartbroken grandparents, and an entire community shaken by the sudden loss of a bright and joyful soul.
Niko was a child who radiated warmth and happiness. With an ever-present sparkle in his eyes and a smile that could light up the room, he brought joy not only to his parents, Daniel and Andrea Higashi, but to everyone lucky enough to know him.
Though only four years old, he had a heart big enough to touch many lives. Whether he was playing outside, sharing laughs with his family, or snuggling in the arms of those he loved, Niko filled each day with love and wonder.
His proud grandfather, Angelo Finelli, often spoke of Niko with deep love and admiration. A cherished member of the Solon Italian Club, Angelo shared his grandson’s stories with warmth and delight. For Angelo and the entire Finelli family, this loss is unfathomable.
In the wake of this tragedy, Daniel and Andrea now face not only the emotional devastation of losing a child but also the immense practical challenges that come with it. As family, friends, and community members, we are rallying to surround them with love, faith, and tangible support.
A GoFundMe page has been created as a way to stand beside Daniel and Andrea during this painful time. The fundraiser will help alleviate the burden of burial expenses, medical bills, time away from work, counseling, and the countless other needs that may arise in the difficult months ahead.
But more than anything, the family asks for prayer—for strength, peace, and healing that can only come from above. As one family friend shared, “No parent should have to endure the loss of a child. There are no words for this kind of heartbreak. All we can do is love them through it.”
The support from the Solon Italian Club and the greater community has already begun to pour in—testaments to how deeply the Finelli and Higashi families are loved. Messages of encouragement, offers of help, and shared grief reflect how much Niko meant to so many.
Niko’s life, though brief, was filled with light. He leaves behind a legacy of innocence, laughter, and love. He taught those around him how to be present, how to love deeply, and how to find joy in the smallest of things.
While his passing leaves a void that can never be filled, his memory will continue to shine brightly in the hearts of his family and community. To know Niko was to know joy.
And while his life was cut far too short, his impact will live on—through every act of kindness, every hug between grieving loved ones, and every prayer whispered on his behalf.
In honor of Niko Higashi, let us hold our loved ones a little tighter, speak words of love more freely, and never take a single moment for granted.
To support the Higashi family, please visit their GoFundMe and consider donating or sharing. And above all, please continue to lift Daniel, Andrea, Angelo, and their entire family in your prayers.
