Sophie Sonnenfeld Photo
Memorial to Christopher Franco on the Tomlinson bridge, where a hit-and-run driver killed him.
Nearly 100 people gathered in Common Ground High School’s cafeteria Sunday for a vigil for recent graduate Christopher Franco, who was killed in a weekend crash, the school’s second tragic loss in six years.
Police said a 55-year-old hit-and-run driver killed Franco Friday night while he was riding his scooter across the Tomlinson bridge. Franco, 18, was riding with a 15 year old male who is in the hospital and listed in critical condition. Police charged the driver with felony evasion and are holding her on a $200,000 bond pending a scheduled Monday morning court appearance.
Plaque, artwork, and messages to honor Javier Martinez in Common Ground hallway.
Chris Franco.
The school lost another student, Javier Martinez, back in December 2013 when he was shot and killed in Fair Haven Heights. Martinez, who was a senior at Common Ground High School, was a friend of Christopher Franco’s older brother Carlos.
With 40 people per graduating class, Common Ground High School Director Liz Cox said, the high school’s students become close very quickly. After Franco’s death this weekend, students reached out to each other through social media and the school made immediate plans to hold a vigil.
“We’re giving people a place to be together,” Cox said. “People are in shock, and are going to be in shock for a long time. But, if we are there for each other, we are going to get through this with time.”
Cox said the school “wants the world to know how loved he was.”
Liz Cox.
Franco was a member of the basketball team and social justice club. Cox said Franco loved math and was working on plans for a career in engineering. Cox said that in conversations between students and teachers, “we are going to think of the best ways to honor Chris.”
“Chris was concerned about the elderly and handicapped people,” said Common Ground English teacher Joan Malerba-Foran. “He was dedicated to trying to install ramps, wheelchair accessible areas and picnic tables on campus.” Malerba-Foran called Franco a “justice seeker” who “made me a better teacher.”
The school provided pizza, stress balls, and art supplies for visitors Sunday to write messages for the family about their favorite memories with Franco. Classmates, teachers, and friends sat around tables while individuals got up to share stories about Franco and his incredible empathy.
A Common Ground math teacher said Franco was “a bit of a prankster.” The teacher said whenever he was in a “grumpy mood,” Franco would sneak around and steal all the markers or write on the board. “He could always make me smile on a day when I wasn’t smiling.”
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Friends commented on Franco’s “great, positive energy.” “We were like brother and sister,” said one, who recalled him as always mischievous, with a memorable laugh.
Another friend said while senior year was a dark time for her, Franco was there to help as a “guardian angel.” On one especially rough day, Franco saw what she was going through and gave her a hug. “That hug saved my life and I wish I could’ve done the same for him.”
“Chris was the kind of person who wants everyone around him to shine.”
Common Ground High School math teacher and friend of the Franco family Mel Morales asked students and teachers to provide photos and memories for the family. He said the family also asked that members of the basketball team wear their jerseys in honor of their son.
The basketball team signed a ball and presented it to the family at the vigil. “Once you put on that jersey, you’re part of the family,” said one team member.
At the Memorial Site
Aliany Gonzalez (bottom left) and Chelsea Gonzalez (bottom right).
Chelsea Gonzalez lived next door to Christopher Franco. She was close friends with Franco since they were little. Gonzalez helped to set up a memorial at 6 p.m. Saturday at the scene of the crash on the Tomlinson bridge.
Gonzalez and Franco’s old girlfriend Aliany Gonzalez stayed at the memorial through Saturday night and Sunday morning, bringing candles and balloons. They were joined by a crowd of friends after the vigil at Common Ground.
Chelsea Gonzalez estimated that since Saturday night, over 200 people visited the memorial. Gonzalez said the community response has shown that “everyone loved him.”
The school will hold another vigil on Monday from 4 to 6:30 pm. The funeral for immediate family will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday at the Washington Memorial Funeral Home (4 Washington Avenue, North Haven), and will be open to the community from 4 to 7 p.m.
It's truly sad this young man died, and the driver of the car that hit him fled the scene. However, by chance, that same evening, I almost hit a scooter not far from the accident scene while driving on Chapel St, near East St. It was dark, and the scooter, which was possibly red, had no rear lights on and neither the driver or passanger wore helmets. I blinked and flashed my headlights to alert them about their taillight not working or not turned on, but they sped up and turned on East Street. Rest in peace.