NAHANT — Nahant remembered one of its own Saturday.
More than 60 people gathered along the Town Wharf at sunset to witness the dedication of a plaque in memory of Nahant teenager Maximillion Carbone.
Despite the bitter cold, friends of the 2017 Swampscott High School graduate laughed and greeted one another as they waited on the crowded dock for a glimpse of the memorial, which now hangs on the side of the building that houses equipment for the Nahant sailing team.
The wharf was a fitting spot for such an occasion. 19-year-old Carbone was an avid sailor and, like many Nahant youth, spent much of his childhood by the water.
“It’s just such a privilege to remember Max here,” said his mother, Jennifer Carbone. “It was such a special place for every kid in Nahant and some of his most cherished memories with his friends were here.”
Carbone was a sophomore biomedical engineering student at Wentworth Institute of Technology when he died in April. In a statement released after his death, Carbone’s family described him as a hardworking student and a “sweet, happy and loving son, brother and friend.”
“Nahant is such a tight-knit, small community that if something happens to one of us, it happens to the whole community,” said Town Administrator Antonio Barletta. “The community really got together to help the family, and continues to do so.”
Selectman Josh Antrim also spoke on behalf of the Nahant sailing program, of which Carbone was a member for many years.
“It’s a tough time for them, but they are thrilled to have the memorial for Max at the wharf, where he loved spending his time,” Barletta said of the Carbone family.
Jennifer Carbone said she recognized almost every single young person in attendance, and added that she’s grateful for the support her son’s friends and peers have provided the family over the last several months.
“They’re in touch almost daily,” she said. “These kids are great. The community is just so special.”
As Carbone’s family greeted those who stayed after the ceremony, facing the waves and reflecting the last rays of the day’s light, the plaque read: “In loving memory of Maximillian Xavier Carbone. Sailing instructor. Wharf rat. Beloved son of Nahant.”
