Family, Friends Remember Wayne's Rinas as 'Special Person'

Isaac Rinas’ high school yearbook was laid out on a table. The flag of Romania, his native country, placed next to it. Picture after picture were on display boards showing Rinas with friends and family, a smile on his face in nearly every one.

Dozens of people packed into Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home Tuesday to remember the Wayne teenager. Rinas was shot and killed in Paterson just hours after he graduated from Wayne Valley High School Wednesday.

“He was always on the go, always looking for the next big thrill,” Rinas’ mother Meredith told those in attendance. “He loved his family and friends.”

More than a dozen of Rinas' friends eulogized Rinas at the service.

Rinas was 2 when his father David went to Romania to get him. A bond quickly formed between the two.

Meredith Rinas said the entire neighborhood helped to raise her son. Others said that the relationship they had with Rinas was as strong as their relatioships with their siblings.

“He was a special person and so easy to get along with,” one girl said as she entered the funeral home. “He was so easy to be around and never judged you. That’s what I’ll remember most about him.”

Rinas had a heart for others. His dream was to become a police officer. He knew several Wayne police officers.

“Isaac was so looking forward to being free of school so he could pursue his dream,” Meredith Rinas said. “School was always an incredible challenge for Isaac. He found more value in life experiences.”

Besides helping others, Rinas also enjoyed being a kid. Video games, hanging with friends and going on neighborhood camping trips were some of his favorite activities.

“He often told me that he wasn’t going to live a very long life. I would always argue with him and ask him why he thought that,” Meredith Rinas said. “He would always say he didn’t know why, he just felt it.”

Three Charged

Police have charged three men in Rinas' death.

Quashon Faircloth, 27, of Paterson is charged with murder, felony murder and weapons offenses. Casey Cole, 18, of Wayne was charged Friday with felony murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. Bishma Cowan, 24, of Paterson was charged with murder and robbery.

Both Cole and Cowan pleaded not guilty to the charges in separate appearances in Superior Court Tuesday morning.

Police say Rinas and Cole drove to Paterson in Rinas' Infiniti G37 after graduation in an attempt to buy a handgun. But it was an alleged setup: Cole and Cowan had planned in advance to rob Rinas when they arrived, NorthJersey.com reported.

Rinas and Cole were told to wait on Fair Street by Cowan, police said. Once parked, Faircloth entered the Infiniti and ordered Cole out of the car, NorthJersey.com reported. 

Faircloth shot and killed Rinas once he exited the Infiniti, the report said.

Additionally, one of the suspects stole $350 from Rinas, NorthJersey.com reported.

The Isaac Rinas Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established. Memorial donations may be sent to LPL Financial, FBO Isaac Rinas Memorial Fund, Astorino Financial Group, attn: Danielle 250 Passaic Ave., Suite 220 Fairfield, NJ 07004. 

— Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard at Daniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.