Community Grieves Loss of NHS Senior Greg Chion
Community Grieves Loss of NHS Senior Greg Chion
By Tanjua Damon
âIn our sleep, pain which cannot forget, falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair and against our will comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.â
This message was part of many along the walls on the second floor of Newtown High School on Friday as students mourned the death of one of their own, Gregory Chion, who had been battling Leukemia for the last nine months. Gregory, 17, died Thursday, October 26 at the Westchester Medical Center.
âWe love you Greg,â and âWeâll miss you Gregâ could be seen written on studentâs cars on Friday. Pale blue ribbons were pinned to studentâs clothing as the entire school grieved the loss of their classmate.
Newtown High School Principal William Manfredonia described Greg as the student who always had a smile.
âIt was a tough weekend. The students and faculty really came through,â Mr Manfredonia said. âGreg is a very special person. He is the American-Renaissance student. He was an honor student.â
Greg was a well-rounded and involved student at Newtown High School. He was a senior, co-editor of the Senior Yearbook, captain of the Newtown High School Swim Team, a drum major for the Newtown High School Marching Band, a member of the National Honor Society, and a member of the Spanish Honor Society. Greg was also the recipient of the DeGroat Athletic Award.
âHe was so well versed,â Mr Manfredonia said. âThe students and faculty had such a respect for him. He was a happy and positive individual.â
Mr Manfredonia said even with Gregâs struggle over the last nine months, he expected to be back at Newtown High any day.
âIt was a very tough day for us,â he said.
His parents, John and Ginny Chion and sister, Jennifer are residents of Sandy Hook. The family has asked that contributions be made to the Gregory Chion Scholarship, c/o Newtown Scholarship Association, P.O. Box 302, Newtown, CT 06470 or the Leukemia Society of America, Fairfield County Chapter, 500 Summer Street, Suite 310, Stamford, CT 06901.