Tumor Victim's Memory Lives on at JTHS

The Class of 2012 dedicated a special spot in a courtyard to the memory of their friend and classmate Dakota McNabb, who died of complications from a brain tumor in 2009.

Dylan Vance, a lacrosse teammate and friend of Dakota’s, built the pavilion in his honor as an. The pavilion is an addition to the memory garden which was planted in honor of a student from the class of 2008 who died in a car accident.

In an emotional ceremony, several of McNabb’s family members, friends and teachers spoke of their memories of him as a son, friend, teammate and student.

“I’ll never forget hanging out with Dakota, and always finding some kind of trouble to get into,” said Dylan Johnson, 2012 senior class president and McNabb’s lacrosse teammate and friend of many years. “Even though he’s not with us physically, he’s here in spirit, and I think of him every day.”

Dakota’s father, Mark McNabb, spoke of his bond with both his son and the many friends and teammates he had over the years he coached Dakota in sports.

“I remember some of the more inexperienced players who would get knocked down over and over again in games, but they’d get right back up and keep on playing the game,” Mark said. “It’s the same way in life. You get knocked down a lot, but you’ve shown that you can get back up and keep on living. Thank you for that.”

Dakota’s mother, Tammy Stansky, told a story of a butterfly flying about her yard and landing right over her heart last Saturday, which would have been Dakota’s birthday.

“I’ve never had a butterfly land on me in my whole life,” she said. “But it happened on Dakota’s birthday. I know he’s always with me, and with all of us.”