Childhood Friends Killed In Tragic House Fire

64 year old Robert Drake Brownell had just left Virginia several months ago to re-connect with his son on Long Island--a son he'd left behind years ago, because of divorce. Last night, Brownell was killed with his long-time friend, Doug DeSouza, in DeSouza's family home in Mastic. DeSouza's wife, Barbara, was left fighting for her life at Stony Brook University Medical Center, after suffering serious smoke inhalation. All three victims were turning 65 this year--pals from their childhood years in Levittown.

By MARY MURPHY

April 27, 2012