On Friday, November 15, whispers circulated throughout the halls of the North and South buildings. Rumors were received with hesitance, leaving students waiting and wondering. After A lunch, the announcements rang out with a different, melancholy message as the whole school was informed.

   During fourth period, Assistant Principal Lindsay Cherry said,  “We regret to inform all of you that a 12th-grade student, Lucas Garbarino, who many of you knew as a student here, has sadly passed away in a tragic accident. Lucas was a valued member of the school. His presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.” Jr. Elijah Gutknecht posted a TikTok of the response from Lucas’s AP Psychology class that has been viewed more than eight million times. The video is a brief glimpse into the grief experienced at West Ottawa.

   Lucas was the son of parents Marissa and Gabe Garbarino. The rest of the day became a coalescence of emotions as students grappled with the reality of the loss. Students and staff supported each other in both buildings and counselors were accessible. Posts flooded social media as students came together in grief over their beloved friend. 

   Lucas Garbarino was a shining light whose humor could crack a smile on those he knew well and those he had just met. Sr. Lola Nawrocki-Mongello said, “He was very adventurous and would do what he wanted no matter what anyone would tell him. He saw life as this big adventure and would open other people’s eyes to that. No matter where he went there was always a glow around him; you could never tell if he was having a bad day because he put others before himself, and wouldn’t let others see him like that.” 

 Mabel Ronne was a friend of Lucas. “Lucas always knew how to put a smile on my face, including others as well. He checked up on me all the time just to make sure I was okay. He was the most selfless person out there and those who knew him knew how much of a positive impact he had on their lives. He’s very much loved and missed, but he will never be forgotten.” 

   Sr. Arisella Ross was devastated by the loss. “I’d say Lucas is a really lovable guy. He always brought a lot of energy, laughs, and wanted everyone else to be laughing with him. He loved adventures and was so passionate about rock climbing and music. Personally to me, he felt like a big brother who was always protecting me and truly wanted to see me happy. He was so selfless and supportive and the greatest friend you could ever ask for.”

   Sr. Landon Kipker was one of  Lucas’ closest friends. “One word to describe Lucas is wild. Everything he did was crazy, whether it was a fun thing, a dumb thing, or a dangerous thing, he made sure everyone around him was happy and having a good time. He was such an outgoing person, always doing what needs to be done, and he never let anything get to him. He didn’t care what anyone thought, he just did his own thing. Lucas was super smart; he didn’t always make the best decisions but whatever made him happy and kept others happy he would do it. He was just overall such a well-rounded lovable person, making everyone smile and laugh no matter the situation.” 

   Lucas had an immense heart. With his love for rock climbing, thrifting, movie watching, urban exploring, and attending Blair Lake Bible camp, he never stopped picking up new hobbies and spreading his love to people who supported him. One of his favorite things was being around others and making new friends. Lucas was someone you could always reach out to if you needed anything. He was reliable and someone you could confide in.

   Sports were another passion for Lucas. He participated in freshmen football, track junior year, and wrestling freshmen and sophomore years. Sr. Issac Garcia met Lucas through football: “He was super inspiring on and off the field, and a big goofball. I remember when he had worn his football pads backwards and he looked super, kinda like a cool skeleton or something silly like that. I remember when he said to me he had laughed at the smallest and biggest things that happened to him. That laugh is one to remember for sure.”

 We will remember Lucas Garbarino from his exceedingly loyal, humorful, insightful, and outgoing personality. He got the opportunity to meet many people who loved him, and each one created memories with him. Even if you didn’t get to meet him in person, his presence and spirit were felt everywhere in and out of school. 

   The Garbarinos created a GoFund me for those who wanted to support them through this difficult time. The family’s goal was $15,000. With the help of family, friends, and the community, they raised $34,832 as of November 25th. Gofundme – https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-marissa-and-gabe-in-lucass-memory

   Additionally, the Garbarinos have a meal train, where meals can be donated to help the family, showing love and support by providing a meal or gift card for the next few months. MealTrain- https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/972ovk

  Lucas’s celebration of life took place on Saturday, November 30th at Central Wesleyan from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.