ND Student Remembered As 'Brilliant, Talented'
Updated 10/28/10 5:35 p.m.
MUNDELEIN (WBBM) -- Notre Dame junior Declan Sullivan, who was killed when the tower he was standing on to film football practice on Wednesday, was honored Thursday at his alma mater, Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein.
As the day began at Carmel High School, a school spokeswoman says, the sophomore football team gathered in the chapel for a team prayer.
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Sullivan's younger brother is a member of that team.
At Carmel, Sullivan excelled in academics, played football and volleyball and was in the marching band, jazz band and concert band.
Sullivan's friends said was passionate about the arts.
One of his teachers remembers him as "an academically talented young man who respected others, reached out beyond himself, approached life aggressively, and strove for excellence."
His guidance counselor describes him as "friendly, hilarious, brilliant."
"When he graduated," she says, "he took the time to give me a hand-written thank you note as well as flowers."
Ryan Cappis, a senior at Carmel, told CBS 2's Vince Gerasole that the mood at the school "was pretty down; a lot of kids I saw crying."
"I think some people were, like, enjoying his life, like thinking like how the kid he was and … enjoying that, the time he had," Chappis added.
In high school, Sullivan excelled at academics, played trumpet in many bands and acted in numerous plays.
His band director, David Weibers, remembered him as someone who "reached out beyond himself, approached life aggressively and strove for excellence."
Guidance counselor Christine Hartnett said "He was just an awesome person ... friendly, hilarious, brilliant."
By phone, Sullivan's uncle Mike Miley said the family will remember Sullivan as a vibrant and caring young man.
"Notre Dame was very much his passion and big in his life for many years," Miley said. "In this particular event, he was doing what he could to help others … and that's indicative of what he was like for many areas of his life."
