Jack would have loved it.
New York Giants star wide-receiver Victor Cruz visited the family of his biggest little fan, 6-year-old Jack Pinto, in Connecticut today, paying respects to the family four days after Jack was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School bloodbath.
On Sunday, Cruz had honored the little boy by dedicating a football game to his memory.
Today, the day after Jack was buried, Cruz spent more than three hours in the family’s Sandy Hook home visiting with family, friends and neighbors of little Jack — who was buried in his favorite football jersey, No. 80, Cruz’s number.
“Much love to the entire Pinto family. Great people with huge hearts,” Cruz tweeted shortly after leaving the home. “Looking at life through a different lens.”
During the course of the visit, dozens of young kids — mostly boys — clad in Giants blue could be seen playing football and running around the lawn at the Pinto house.
They left with bags full of Giants memorabilia.
The visit was chaperoned by at least five police vehicles and plenty of officers.
Only one guest was willing to say anything about the special tribute as he walked down the street from the home.
“It was a successfully private moment, and I’d prefer to keep it that way,” he said.
When Cruz had learned this weekend of Jack’s tragic death in the shooting rampage, he dedicated the Giants game vs. the Atlanta Falcons to his memory.
“Jack Pinto” and “My Hero” were among the loving messages Cruz wrote on his cleats and gloves before the game, which the Giants went on to lose 34-0.
The gesture was hailed by lots of folks, including the founder of a Facebook page dedicated to Jack.
Jack’s father, Dean, posted a heart-breaking picture of the family-of-four on Facebook earlier today — with his two young sons smiling and sitting on Santa Claus’s lap.