Zachary Tobin's life should be celebrated, say friends of deceased teen
Zachary Tobin of Seal Cove was a caring, thoughtful teen whose life should be celebrated and remembered, say friends.
"His memories will stick with me forever," Ben LeDrew, who played softball with Zachary for five years, told CBC News Tuesday.
"He was a great guy. I felt comfortable talking to him about anything. He was really optimistic on and off the softball field."
Zachary was a member of the student council at Queen Elizabeth Regional High in Foxtrap, and was always eager to get involved and help out, added council president Emily Butler.
"He would always step up to the plate," she said, adding that Zachary was bursting with school spirit.
"I speak for the entire school when I say we are all deeply saddened."
Zachary Michael Tobin, 15, was pronounced dead at the Janeway children's hospital after being found unresponsive at a home in the Indian Pond Estates area of Seal Cove just before midnight on Friday, Dec. 19.
Sources have told CBC News that Zachary consumed an amount of alcohol.
The death of someone so young has struck a big blow to many in the area, and had one emergency room doctor urging parents to talk to their children about the dangers of alcohol.
Zachary had a big heart
While questions about the cause of the teen's death remain, his friends say they prefer to remember a schoolmate and friend who loved athletics, especially softball, and was a role model.
"We really wanted to bring recognition to the public about just how good of a person Zach was and outline the positives of his whole life, because there were many," said Ben.
Zachary had a big heart and was always giving, he added, recalling a conversation he had with Zachary about a relative who was born with Down syndrome.
"When she was born, he even said, for the rest of his life, he will really take care of her when she needed it. That was big of him to do that," Ben said.
A group of students has initiated a fundraising drive to help Zachary's family through their grief.
Donation boxes have been placed at several Tim Hortons restaurants in the St. John's region.
"We're trying our best to support each other, the students, his friends and especially his family," said Emily.
