Counselors Will be at SHS to Help School Community Cope With Loss of Senior David Wade

Editor's Note: David Wade, a 17-year-old senior at Stoughton High, died after suffering a gunshot wound to the chest the afternoon of Sept. 29 at his Turnpike St. home. Wade was a member of the SHS football team and a past member of the cheerleading team. He was also part of the indoor track team last winter (Click here and here for further coverage).

The following is an email Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marguerite Rizzi sent Sunday afternoon to members of the press and Stoughton School Committee:

In just two weeks time, our community has been struck by two tragic deaths of young people in our midst.  While the Hansen community is still mourning the death of a little girl in a car accident, the High School is now facing the terrible sadness of the death of David Wade.  Our seniors have lost a classmate, and our football team, a teammate.  Numerous teachers have had David in their classes over the years and will feel this loss personally.

[Stoughton High] Principal Julie Miller convened the crisis team today.  In the days to come our counseling staff and administrators will work together to provide all the services and support that our students and high school staff may need, including after school hours.  Additional support has been offered by the Stoughton Youth Commission, who responded to a request from our crisis team to do everything they can to help.

Counselors will be available from first thing [Monday] morning, plans are in place, and the administration is aware of those individuals who may be most affected so that they can be cared for.  The coaches and others have already been working with the football team.

We are a strong and resilient group of people, and everyone will help each other get through this. We will continue to give our students the excellent education that they are used to and deserve.

The Wade family has generously asked that donations in David's name be given to the Stoughton football program, and we will set up an account for this [Monday].