When I had to move schools in 4th grade, beginning new as a 5th grader at Williams Elementary and trying to make friends with kids who had known each other for several years, Alex was one of those who let "the new girl" sit at his table during lunch and welcomed me into the friend group (maybe Rachel made him - after all, we were on the same soccer team and our parents were becoming fast friends! ;).
Alex was always a welcoming face during tough teenage years, through competitive club soccer tryouts, band rehearsals, and challenging academic endeavors at Lincoln Middle School and later at EHS. Alex excelled in math and sciences and offered me help with homework in those areas where I often struggled.
I have fond memories of post-soccer practice meet ups with our dads at Beef O'Brady's where Alex showed me THE only way to eat french fries. Smothered in malt vinegar, of course. We ran wild playing "Crazy Taxi" and other arcade games while Adam and my dad fed us quarters to keep us occupied. My brother thought Alex was the coolest, and, with our families spending so much time together during those years riding around the state for soccer tournaments, probably saw him as an older brother figure, and pestered him the way little brothers do. Alex was both fun and patient with him, showing us Burger kids how to play Guitar Hero in the Alty's basement.
During one summer in middle school, I signed up for the LMS Spanish Club's annual EF Tour to Spain and France. Thankfully, Alex also signed up for the trip, and he and Rachel (as a chaperone) helped me as I made my first international flight. During one of the tour days we visited Barcelona and spent the afternoon at Barceloneta beach. A few of us wandered away from the group and jumped in the water, Alex among the group. We swam towards a pile of rock wave barriers, probably 100 yards from shore, where hip-looking Barcelonian teens were sunbathing. It was exhilarating as we tested the boundaries of our freedom (sorry Rachel and other chaperones, was probably stressful!).
These years were formative for me, and Alex will always be a big part of my memories from preteen to teenagehood. I am so sad that we've lost him, and send my deepest condolences to Rachel, Adam, Meghan and Jenny.
