Saturday, August 23, 2008

Magdalena remembers 'sonny Boy'

Plaque honors Magdalena boy, 11, who died in February

T.S. Last El Defensor Chieftain General Manager, tslast@dchieftain.com

Juan Pino Jr. will not be forgotten.

Magdalena Schools made sure of that when it paid tribute to his memory by placing a plaque honoring him on what's being referred to as a memorial wall.

The wall stands between the school and the athletic field, where Juan might have made more memories had he lived past age 11. But his life was cut short in February when he died as the result of a brain aneurism.

At an informal but emotional ceremony held last week, the plaque was unveiled in front of a crowd made up mostly of Juan's ex-classmates and teachers and his family members.

The plaque features a photo of Juan in his football uniform under etching that reads:

In Loving Memory of Juan Pino Jr.

"This means a lot to us," Rose Mary Pino, Juan's mother, said following the ceremony. "We're very appreciative to the school. They loved him very much."

The love poured out in the form of tears.

"It's OK to be sad," Superintendent Mike Chambers said during the unveiling. "But this is something that will help us remember Juan with a glad heart."

Juan's fifth-grade teacher Nancy Jaramillo also spoke during the ceremony. Speaking on behalf of Juan's classmates, she said, "Juan will always be a part of our classroom, and he'll always be a part of us."

Later, Jaramillo spoke fondly of Juan, who she described as a great kid who had a laugh that could light up a room.

That laugh is one of the last memories she and Juan's classmates have of him. It was Valentine's Day and the class was playing a game of musical chairs.

Juan began having complications just before Christmas break, and he wasn't able to attend when classes resumed in January. But he showed his love for his classmates with a visit to the school on Valentine's Day.

Juan wasn't able to participate in the game, but he videotaped his classmates at play and couldn't stop laughing.

"That's our last, best memory of Juan," Jaramillo said.

Two weeks later, Juan passed away. Though they knew he was sick, the news was totally unexpected.

"We're such a close school community, it knocked the wind out of us. When we lost him, it was such a shock," Jaramillo said.

For a while, Juan's desk became a memorial. Jaramillo said the desk was left just as Juan last left it.

Elementary school principal Kitty Martin said Juan was an ideal student.

"He was a bright kid, and he had a sweet spirit," she said. "He was kind of a quiet kid, but he was funny. He was also protective of his sister. They had a real neat relationship."

Though they each had friends of their own, Juan would always sit with his twin sister Kendra at lunch. They had a bond that will never be broken.

Rose Mary Pino produced a letter that Kendra wrote to Juan just a few weeks ago:

Remembering when we were kids, doing things that all kids do. The happy times were twice the fun, sharing it with you. The months have passed, but even though those days are gone you're still the kind of person that makes things wonderful. You're the best brother in the whole wide world, Juan. I will always Love you.

From your sister Kendra

The plaque on the memorial wall represents another message of love for Juan from the students and staff at Magdalena School.

"We wanted to see Juan remembered," Jaramillo said. "Hopefully, there will be a time when it brings comfort instead of tears."

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