Family of Jeffrey Meddock thanks community

Star Beacon

October 12, 2008 01:59 am

— On behalf of the entire family of Jeffrey Meddock, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the remarkable number of people in Ashtabula County who helped us through the past week during the events that followed in the wake of our son’s tragic death on Friday, October 3, 2008.
In particular, we would like to thank the members of the Andover and Pymatuning Valley Local School District communities. On Wednesday, October 8, it was estimated for us that more than 1,000 friends, colleagues, students, and former students came to the Baumgardner Funeral Home in Andover to pay their respects to our son and extend their condolences.
We would like to thank them for the time and love they showed by making their visits that day. In addition, we would like to thank them from the bottom of our hearts for the time they took to share so many wonderful stories about how they enjoyed or appreciated Jeff. As saddened as we are by the loss that made this day necessary, our spirits were lifted tenfold by the demonstrations of love and friendship that were expressed by those who visited us that day.
Our final thanks belong to the students, staff, and administration of the Pymatuning Valley Local Schools for the overwhelming amounts of affection and dedication to the memory of our son that they displayed in quickly planning, creating, and hosting the beautiful memorial service for Jeff on Wednesday night at Pymatuning Valley High School.
The entire evening was awe-inspiring, and we especially want to thank Superintendent Jake Rose, former Superintendent Bill Lynch, Assistant Principal Jeremy Huber, Mark Savel, Mike Shontz, and Brad Baranowski for the uplifting speeches they delivered that evening.
We will remember their words always, as well as the prayers that were offered by the Rev. Bob Gears and the Rev. Gary Morrison and the beautiful bagpipe music performed by PVHS student Lucas Riley.
We will also forever remember the touching and humorous words of the teachers and students who were interviewed for the evening’s multimedia presentation. What a wonderful group of teachers, staff, and students!
A special note of thanks must go to Multi-Media Instructor Scott Wludyga and his students. Mr. Wludyga served as the memorial service’s host and oversaw the efforts of his students at PV High School, who, in just three days, created a multimedia presentation that was as fine as anything that could be done by professionals twice their ages and warmer than any presentation that could be created anytime, anywhere.
Although we are establishing a scholarship fund in conjunction with the Pymatuning Valley Local Schools to memorialize Jeff’s efforts to help students reach their academic goals and thus plan to stay in direct contact with the Pymatuning Valley community for years to come, we know that it will always be the memories of this truly one-of-a-kind day provided for us by these exceptional town and school communities that we will carry with us in the months and years to come.
With love
and gratitude,
Mr. and Mrs.
Dale and Wilma
Meddock
Economy Borough, Pa.