The River Forest High Class of 2026 was to claim their hard-earned diplomas Thursday in a football field ceremony but the seniors didn’t forget two fallen classmates.
On Wednesday, several seniors dedicated a bench and memorial garden in the school’s courtyard to remember Rodrigo “Rico” Montes and Jose Torres, both 18.
A plaque on the bench anchoring the garden listed their names and read: “Forever in our hearts.”
The two classmates spent their school lives in River Forest schools but didn’t know each other well. They died a few months apart, but now their memories will live on together in the memorial garden full of remembrances of each of them.
Principal Gaelyn Mlynarcik credited students for designing the plan, fundraising and turning part of the grassy courtyard into the garden.
Rodrigo drowned in Deep River after a high-speed car crash on March 23. Authorities spent three days searching for him as family and friends held a desperate vigil nearby. They found his body on March 26.
Police took a 17-year-old male driver into Lake County Juvenile Court custody.
Jose found out he had a rare, aggressive soft-tissue cancer four years ago. He endured treatments his entire time in high school.
He stayed in school as long as he could and died in January. Teacher Rhonda Chavez taught him from his hospital bed to make sure he qualified for his diploma.
“Both of them were really good people,” said senior Marc Magano, 18, who said Rodrigo was his best friend. Building the garden drew classmates closer, he said.
“You just want a permanent place where everyone can come and reflect,” he said.
Families and friends watched the poignant ceremony as a small group of seniors from the 135-member Class of 2026 stood inside the garden. Maria Montes, Rodrigo’s mom, sobbed quietly.
“This means a lot… This will be a spot we come and memorialize and love him,” she said. “Everyone loved him.”
Jose’s grandmother, Ivette Torres, said she raised her grandson and he loved fishing, golfing, and reading.
“I used to take him golfing. I’m not a golfer but since he liked it…” she said.
Jillian Cash accompanied Torres to represent her son Sasha LuBecke, Jose’s best friend. She said her son had to work.
“I’m very thankful that this came together. It’s very beautiful,” said Torres.
Superintendent Kevin Trezak called Rodrigo and Jose special friends to their classmates who wanted to preserve their memory.
“These dedications are rare and that speaks to the special nature of not only the kids, but the families, and then ultimately, just how tight this community is,” he said.
Class sponsor and math teacher Katrina Keilman, in her first year at River Forest, paid tribute to the seniors who put the project together and thanked Johnson’s Garden Center for donating the plants.
“The kids dedicated hours of free time to this,” she said.
“This is the best way we can honor them.”
Mlynarcik said the seniors took something tragic and turned it into a positive.
“Those two boys were so loved by their classmates… It’s so fitting they will be a part of this literal landscape forever.”
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
