Murdered state trooper gives gift of sight

Washington State Trooper Tony Radulescu, killed in the
line of duty last month, is giving two people the gift of
sight.

A 56-year-old woman in California and a 52-year-old man in
South Korea can now see because of Trooper Radulescu’s
generosity.

His girlfriend, Gina Miller, hopes his zest for life will
transform the recipient’s through his gift.

“Hopefully they will enjoy life as much as he did. It
helps with the grief. It helps knowing that there’s still
part of him out there that’s enjoying life.”

Miller said Radulescu would have wanted to know everything
about the two people who suffered from corneal blindness.

“I think he would be very excited to know that he’s still
helping people, even though he’s not physically here with
us,” she said.

For Erick Radulescu, it’s nice to know that a part of his
father is still out there, but this gift of sight for two
others is just as important to him.

“I love being a part of all the giving and the positive
things that happen now,” he said. “I hope they can find a
way to transplant his sense of humor into someone else
too.”

And Radulescu hopes his father’s gift will encourage
others to become donors. “Sharing is caring,” he joked.
“It’s just the way I feel, pretty much about everything.
The best way to show you care about someone is to share
things with them.”

And for Gina Miller, the final act of the man she loved,
the man who could make a speeder smile after getting a
ticket, makes her just as proud of anything he did in
life. “He will always be my hero,” she said. “I’m very
proud of him, and I will always be proud of him.”

Trooper Radulescu donated his corneas to SightLife, a Seattle
eye bank that provides transplants around the world.
Miller is sending letters to the two recipients to let
them know about the man who gave them sight.

Radulescu was killed Feb. 23 following a traffic stop near
Gorst, Wash. Joshua Blake, the suspected gunman, shot and
killed himself before police could arrest him.

Three other people were arrested for helping Blake elude
police. Police say Megan G. Mollet, 18, was in a pickup
with Blake when he was pulled over. Jessi Leigh Foster,
32, was Blake’s former girlfriend and is accused of trying
to help him flee. Daniel Lee Carter, 37, is accused of
helping provide a getaway car.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.