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Popular RHS student, killed in crash, was artist
and athlete
Dec 15, 2005
A 17-year-old known for humor, easy-going charm, artistic talent
and athletic skills died in a car accident last weekend, leaving his
family and much of Ridgefield High School in grief.
Michael
Plunkett of Ridgefield and Bedford Hills, N.Y., died at the scene of
single car rollover on New York State Route 22 in Bedford about
10:30 Saturday night, Dec. 10, according to Bedford Police.
Ridgefield High
School�s counseling center was open to allow shaken students to
share feelings with counselors, or Principal Dianna Lindsay.
�He
was so light-hearted and so nice and genuine to everyone � everyone
was his friend,� said Lauren Cava. �He was a junior, but I know
almost every single senior was his friend � and juniors and
sophomores. He was just so nice, everyone wanted to be his
friend.�
�The thing I remember about Mike is that he always made
me laugh and he was really funny,� said Hannah Mushlin, a senior.
�He was just a really good kid and I�ll miss him a lot. I think
everyone will.�
Another Ridgefield High School student, a
16-year-old freshman, was also in the sport utility vehicle when it
rolled Saturday night. She and the car�s driver, an 18-year-old from
Bedford, had injuries that police said were �not life-threatening�
and were taken by Bedford ambulance to Westchester Medical Center in
Valhalla, N.Y. Both were treated and released.
None of the three
people in the car was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash,
according to Bedford Police, and Mr. Plunkett was in the front
passenger seat.
A Bedford Police accident team led by Lt. John
Corbett is investigating the accident.
Kids
loved him
Michael Plunkett was born in Mt. Kisco,
N.Y., on May 4, 1988 to Robert B. Plunkett Jr. and Ann Marie Powers
Plunkett.
He had a sister, Magi, three years his senior. She �was
not only his sister, but his close friend and confidant,� said his
aunt, Susan Dighton of Ridgefield. �They shared friends and
countless memories together.�
He was a junior at Ridgefield High
School, having attended Fox Lane High School in Bedford before
moving to Ridgefield earlier this year.
�In a few short months of
attendance, since moving from Bedford Hills, Michael had made a
significant impact on the students and faculty,� his aunt said. �His
warm smile and quick wit immediately captivated all who came in
contact with him.
�He was so creative and witty and charming, and
the kids loved him. He was funny,� Ms. Dighton said.
�Michael is
described by all as creative, personable, sensitive and loyal.
Michael was also passionate about music and enjoyed spending time
with his family, including his mother, who lovingly described him as
a �closet� OC watcher,� his aunt said.
A new-found love of
drawing and computer arts inspired his family and classmates. He�d
joined the mural club at the high school and a unique design of the
school mascot, the tiger, that he�d done in a �graffiti art� style
had been selected for a mural to highlight the lounge of the high
school�s student center. It�s likely that students will still paint
the mural based on his design, though his art teacher, Jessica St.
Jean, told colleagues many students had come forward with ideas for
murals and artwork honoring his memory.
Athlete, skater
He was
also an athlete. He was a member of lacrosse and wrestling teams at
Fox Lane High School as well as an avid snowboarder and skater. Long
before moving to Ridgefield he�d spent many hours at the town�s
Graham Dickinson Skate Park, where he taught in the summer of
2002.
�You know, he brought a smile to everyone�s face, and he
was really a fixture at the park in the early days,� said skate park
director Linda Caponetti.
�He had so many friends there and
became an expert skater, evidenced by the fact that we hired him to
teach in-line skating,� said Ms. Caponetti.
�Michael is not
someone that will be forgotten. Everyone loved him,� she said. �He
just, honestly, you can�t imagine. I�m getting calls from all the
guys, they�re breaking down on the phone � he�s just touched
everybody�s heart.�
Ms. Dighton said, �Michael brought his humor
and warm personality to work. He enjoyed jobs as a lifeguard and
swim instructor at the Saw Mill River Club in Mt. Kisco and the
Bedford Hills Town Pool.�
He�d worked for about four weeks at the
Ridgefield Stop & Shop.
�Just a nice, friendly, great
personality kid,� said Stop & Shop manager Brian Betesh. �Just a
sad, sad thing.�
Besides his mother, father, sister and his aunt
from Ridgefield, he is survived by paternal grandmother Kay Plunkett
of Brewster, N.Y.; maternal grandparents Richard A. and Mary
Ahlstrom of Delmar, N.Y.; his uncle, Chris Dighton and cousins
Samantha, Matthew and Hannah Dighton of Ridgefield; an aunt and
uncle Don and Kit McGuire and cousin Sean McGuire of Brewster. He is
also survived by many other loving aunts, uncles and cousins
including Bill and Alice Powers of Connecticut; Mary Carol Powers of
Bedford Hills; Richard, Lisa, Ben, Isabel and Mary Ahlstrom of
Massachusetts; Christine Ahlstrom of Georgia; Geri Larsen and her
children Eric and Kate of Massachusetts; and Ed and Jennifer
Plunkett of Colorado.
The funeral was held on Wednesday at St.
Francis of Assisi in Mt. Kisco.
Memorial donations may be made in
Michael�s name to Ridgefield Youth Service Bureau, c/o Ridgefield
Town Hall, Ridgefield, CT 06877.
� Copyright by
Hersam Acorn
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