The former "Big Cookie" dessert special on Bigham Tavern's menu in Mount Washington has been renamed to honor a 22-year-old employee who was on a bicycle Sunday when he was struck and killed by an unlicensed driver in Brookline.
The jumbo chocolate chip cookie was Austin Fike Sr.’s favorite dessert at Bigham’s, where he worked as a prep cook and dishwasher, said Sarah Wilderman, the tavern’s director of operations.
“Austin loved our Big Cookie. Often buying himself one, and an extra to share,” according to a poster shared on Bigham Tavern’s Facebook page. “We are renaming our signature, giant chocolate chip cookie to ‘Austin’s Big Cookie.’ “
The restaurant said it plans to donate $1 from every cookie sold to a fund for Mr. Fike’s 2-year-old son, Austin Jr.
Dozens of friends and family members gathered Monday night for a vigil in Mount Washington to honor Mr. Fike. Many of them released balloons.
Mr. Fike, a Mount Washington native, had worked since March at Bigham Tavern. Many who knew him described him as "special."
"He was definitely a challenging person to manage," Ms. Wilderman said with a laugh. "He was always talking to people. There were times I had to reel him back in. But that's why people loved him so much."
Mr. Fike attended Whittier Elementary School in Mount Washington and went for a time to Brashear High School.
“He didn’t really like or go to school,” said his sister, Haley Fike, 29. "My brother just wanted to make everybody happy, and anything he could give, he wanted to give. He wanted to be loved by everybody and gave constant hugs and 'I love yous,' whether you wanted them or not. Sometimes it felt like he was choking me as he was hugging me, and I'm like, ‘I love you, but you’re hurting me.’ ”
He had only recently started biking, according to his sister. He didn’t wear helmets, but had started riding his bike “everywhere” shortly after his son was born to get back and forth to work, she said.
People will remember most the smile he left on their faces, Mr. Fike’s mother, Robin Fike, said. She described her son as “very witty and always goofing around being silly.”
“He had a big heart,” she said.
His grandmother, Betty Hipkiss, said Tuesday she was happy she got to spend time with Mr. Fike on Saturday.
"He was just over at my house. He loved building bike motors," Ms. Hipkiss, 72, of Mount Washington said as she struggled to keep from crying. "This is really hard. He was a wonderful person."
Mr. Fike had worked two jobs to care for his new family, including one at McDonald's, according to Marnie Steedley, a family friend.
"Every time I saw him he wanted to give you a hug," she said. "He made everybody smile."
A childhood friend, Shea Austin Moore, who said she grew up three doors down from Mr. Fike, said their families were close. She described Mr. Fike as an "energetic, fun-loving, sweet boy."
"I haven’t seen him much in the past few years, but every time I did, he would greet me with a big hug and a warm smile," Ms. Moore said. "He was truly a light."
She recalled photographs taken of Mr. Fike this summer that nearly "gave his mother a heart attack."
Mr. Fike can be seen in the photos doing back flips into the fountain at Point State Park, images that captured his "adventurous" spirit, Ms. Moore said.
Everyone had a story about Mr. Fike, according to Ms. Wilderman.
"He was a hard worker, but always looking out for people," Ms. Wilderman said. "For a person to have such a strong spirit, it was was just uplifting."
In addition to the cookie dessert being renamed at Bigham Tavern, the pub also added an additional tip option for credit card users to donate money to Austin's family for funeral costs.
Visitation will take place Friday from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.at the Brusco-Falvi Funeral Home in Mount Washington, as well as Saturday from 10-12 a.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11:45 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a gofundme account at https://www.gofundme.com/f/1sfv2wcpao.
Lacretia Wimbley: lwimbley@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1510 or on Twitter @Wimbleyjourno.
First Published: October 23, 2019, 10:36 p.m.
