Michael S. Pescadario, 73, known to
generations of local children as “Chortles the Clown,” died September 26 of a
stroke while performing at the birthday party for six-year-old Bryson Richards. Bryson’s
mother Abby was inside preparing refreshments at the time. “I figured the clown’s
show would give me time to get the refreshments ready,” reported Mrs. Richards.
“The kids were still laughing and clapping, so I figured everything was fine.
When I came out with the tray of goodies, the clown was dead. I may never sleep
again after seeing that lifeless white-painted face contorted into something
that was either a death grimace or that horrible exaggerated clowny smile.” Asked
if the children were as traumatized as she, Richards said, “Are you kidding?
They were poking him with sticks and putting whatever they could find into his
mouth. They’d even been taking turns riding him down the hill out back. They
were more excited about playing with him that way than they were when he showed
up at the party and gave everyone balloons.”
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