Douglas Usseglio was the kind of brother who never missed his sister’s dance recitals.
And he was there this past weekend, as Julia Usseglio danced as his picture was displayed behind her on the stage.
This particular dance, according to his mother Michelle Usseglio, is the only dance Doug had never seen his sister perform at least once.
“It felt like he was there with us,” said Michelle Usseglio, Doug’s mother, who said many of her son’s friends showed up for the recital, which took place at Regis College. “He was there through everyone and through the emotion of the event.”
Usseglio said the recital was an emotional rollercoaster for the family, but she still doesn’t understand how her daughter remained strong on the stage.
“She did amazing and performed without hesitation,” said Usseglio. “I asked her how she was able to stand there on stage and do what she did, and she said she had to for her brother.”
Douglas “Dougie” Usseglio, 22, of Waltham, Massachusetts, was found dead in a stream in Rindge, not far from the Route 119 intersection on March 6, the day before his 23rd birthday. Recently released autopsy results reveal that Usseglio died due to an overdose of Alprazolam (Xanax).
“Everyone makes mistakes, but that’s not who he was as a person,” said Bill Zeoli, Doug’s cousin. “He shouldn’t be reflected by his death, but how he lived his life when he was alive.”
Usseglio was a lifelong hockey player, playing throughout his high school and college career. He graduated from Waltham High School in 2011 and also attended The Winchendon School, a college preparatory school. He was a Franklin Pierce University student at the time of his death, although he was not currently enrolled in any classes.
Usseglio said Doug use Xanax as he battled panic attacks throughout his life. She said that he had been off medication since a September 2015 arrest on drug charges, and that he had been seeking medical attention to deal with his panic attacks.
“I heard that he had a panic attack that night and took a Xanax,” said Usseglio. “These things do not define my son; he did more to help people around him in his 23 years on this planet than I have done throughout my life.”
Usseglio said that since his death, numerous people have contacted her, letting her know of all the great things her son did for them. In one story, Usseglio said her son had helped a friend through suicidal thoughts by listening to him and offering advice.
“That’s just the type of person he was,” said Ashley Berman, Doug’s friend and former babysitter. “Even if he didn’t have advice for you, he would just sit there and listen. He was a happy-go-lucky kid who certainly brightened up my day.”
Berman said she once took him to one of her high school hockey games when her team was in the finals.
“Losing him is one of the biggest losses of my life,” said Berman. “I got a tattoo in his honor after he passed so I always have a piece of him with me.”
Doug’s older cousin, Kimberly Tufts, said that he served as an inspiration for her son, who went on to play hockey at The Winchendon School, like Doug did.
“Matthew certainly followed in his footsteps,” said Tufts, who said she felt like more of an aunt to Doug. “He looked up to Doug because he was a great person and hockey player. Matthew even wore Doug’s number when he played at The Winchendon School.”
Courtney Kelly, one of Doug’s “close friends” at Franklin Pierce University, said he was missed.
“His laugh was so contagious, it could be heard from a mile away,” said Kelly.
“I learned so many things from Doug.
“He cared about others more than he cared about himself.”
A 5K race will be held Thursday in Waltham, Massachusetts, with proceeds from signups to benefit the recently established Doug Usseglio Scholarship Fund.