Vigil Tonight for Andover Student Peter Catcho, 'Nicest Guy There Was'

Classmates will gather at 9 p.m. today for a student-organized candlelight vigil at Andover High School in Bloomfield Hills to celebrate the life of 17-year-old Peter Catcho of West Bloomfield, described a "kind person to everybody, not at all divisive."

"(Peter) resonates at Andover," Principal Rob Durecka said. "He was well connected to the student body. He was a mentor who worked with eighth-graders coming into the building on the essential high school issues and knew a lot of other students who he shared his passions with ... he was very close with a couple of teachers in particular."

Catcho, a junior at Andover, was found unresponsive at his home about 6:40 a.m. Thursday by his parents. The cause of death is under investigation pending the results of toxicology tests, according to the Oakland County Medical Examiner's office. Catcho had complained of chest pains and a racing heart rate late Wednesday before going to bed and he apparently died sometime after going to bed around 11 p.m. Wednesday, said  Lt. Tim Diamond.

Friday's vigil, announced on the Facebook page Candle Lighting for Peter  Catcho, already has more than 400 people indicating they will attend. It will take place in between the Bloomfield Hills Schools administration building, across the street on Andover Road, and the high school's circular drive.

Rachelle Fawaz, a junior helping to organize the vigil, said the students plan to light 500 candles donated from a local church. She added that everyone in the community is invited to the event.

There also is visitation from 3-8 p.m. today at Southfield Funeral Home, 18338 W. 12 Mile Rd. Mass will take place 10 a.m. Saturday at Holy Name Catholic Church at Harmon and Woodland streets in Birmingham, with internment to follow  at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery at 10 Mile and Beech roads in Southfield, according to the funeral home website.

The Andover student-run radio station, WBFH, 88.1-FM, plans a special tribute on today's 5-7 p.m. radio show, Fridays w/The Blonde Kid with Tyler Kieft.

Students and faculty cope with 'double whammy'

Since learning the news about Catcho's unexpected death around 7:15 a.m. Thursday, Andover administration and faculty have worked to provide "adult ears or a place to be quiet" for the high school's nearly 1,000 students. Durecka said administration worked within the district to bring additional social workers and school psychologists to counsel students in small groups in the media center and that "several students took advantage of that opportunity."

"We continued to run classes and if parents asked to remove their child for the day, we let them," Durecka said. "We recognized that students needed support and several students took advantage of that opportunity."

Students were trying for a return to normal school life today, but late Thursday evening, Meghan Ludwick, a junior who had gone to school with Catcho since fourth grade at Pine Lake Elementary School in West Bloomfield, said she struggled to come to grips with a friend here one day, gone the next. “Peter was the nicest guy there was," Ludwick said. "In seven years, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him frown.”

Ludwick said Catcho didn't have to know someone to make that person feel better. "If he knew you were having a bad day he would just try to get you to smile or laugh," she said. "He was always so nice to everyone – even if he didn't know them."

Durecka said that Catcho was involved in the Future Businesses Leaders of America program at Andover, as well as working as a crew member for an Andover theater group and working at his family's business. Catcho had a passion for lifting weights and he knew many students through his hobby, Durecka said. 

Andover's hallways were uncharacteristically quiet Thursday during passing times, students said. Teachers broke down in tears in classes; some students just wandered the halls, others had permission from parents to leave school.

"Everyone just stopped," said sophomore Jessi Chudler, who was in a class taking a test. "No one finished the test. The teachers just gave us time the rest of the day. During passing hours (between classes) the halls were so quiet."

Chudler remembers Catcho as kind and liked by everyone, including the staff.  "I was in business class with him," she said. "He was smart and nice. Even the teachers loved him. He was actually interested in school, in being there.

"He was a good kid; he didn't get into any trouble. When he was in the Learning Resource Center and helped out everyone there."

Durecka said counseling continued Friday as an all-staff meeting was held to better understand how to help students coping with grief. Andover is also attempting to rebound from the Thursday death of transition coordinator Kerry Kirby, a 31-year-old Auburn Hills resident who, according to a November 2010 article in the newspaper the Andover Shield, was battling Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"Our community staff is hurting. It's like a double whammy," Durecka said. "I'm proud of the way they have provided support." 

The editors of Andover's yearbook, the Hillcrest, have created a Facebook page to gather memories and photos of Catcho. If you have photos you wish to contribute, the Hillcrest advises you to e-mail them to editors@andoverhillcrest.com.