Sandy Hook victims mourned for lives cut short
USA TODAY
Published 6:24 p.m. ET Dec.16, 2012 - Updated 1:01 a.m. ET Dec. 18, 2012

Daniel Barden, 7

Daniel Barden was a "sweet boy" who was on the swim team, liked to play soccer, and "earned his ripped jeans and missing two front teeth," according to a statement by his parents and published reports.

Daniel was one of three children, the younger son of Mark Barden, a musician who frequently plays in the Newtown area, and Jacqueline Barden, an elementary school teacher. Mark Barden's professional website features a photo of Daniel laughing on the lap of his older brother, James, with his sister, Natalie, standing behind them. Another photo shows the cherubic-faced little boy laughing and refers to him as "Daniel the Maniel."

A man who answered the telephone Sunday morning at the Barden home said the family was not taking media calls.

"Words really cannot express what a special boy Daniel was. Such a light. Always smiling, unfailingly polite, incredibly affectionate, fair and so thoughtful towards others, imaginative in play, both intelligent and articulate in conversation; in all, a constant source of laughter and joy," a statement from the family reads. "Daniel was fearless in his pursuit of happiness and life. ... Despite that, he was, as his mother said, 'Just So Good.' He embodied everything that is wholesome and innocent in the world."

Karin LaBanca, 41, told the website The Political Freakshow that her daughter, Maggie, 8, rode the school bus with Daniel. Maggie said her friend liked to play football and soccer. The website also reports Daniel was on the Sandy Hook School swim team.

Jacqueline Barden's page on the website of the Pawling Elementary School in Pawling, N.Y., says the family enjoys "reading, music and hanging with our pet ball python, Todd and our tortoise, Queenie."