Statement from family about recent media reports.

On this day of true sadness, we want to thank the media and people around the world for your support. We are heartbroken. As we lay Blaze to rest, we ask that communities around the world that were touched by Blaze’s life, help us keep his memory and loving spirit alive.

Blaze Bernstein was a brilliant teenager with a noticeably sharp sense of humor and a generous and gentle heart. He was often referred to as a “renaissance man” by his family. He loved cooking, music, art, performing, writing, and experiencing firsthand the beauty of all cultures of the world.