Teammates and Coaches React to Death of Demerio Thomas

Demerio Thomas is being remembered by teammates and friends, in addition to his coaches, as a young man who was always smiling, someone who brightened every room he walk into.

Thomas, a 15-year-old sophomore at Fremd High School, who played football and threw shot put for the track and field team, , where he and his mother were visiting family over spring break. He was an only child.

According to Head Track and Field Coach Jim Aikens, who coached Thomas for the last two years, a moment of silence will be observed today at a track and field meet in Hoffman Estates.

Aikens said he and Thomas’ teammates plan to wear purple ribbons at the meet, to honor the young man, and his love for the LA Lakers.

“He would wake up at 4:45 a.m. in the morning to put on his clothes…purple and yellow almost every single day. He was a die-hard LA Lakers fan,” said Darius Burchett, who plays football at Fremd, and was a close friend of Thomas’.

“Demerio is probably the nicest kid I have ever met or will meet…he always had a smile on his face. I’ve never seen him sad. He would always come up to me with his problems and I would help him,” Burchett said.

Similar sentiments were shared by Brad Ruehrdanz, also a good friend of Thomas’, who played football and competed in shot put alongside him.

“I just want to say that Demerio was one of a kind. He was the kid that brightened every room he walked into,” Ruehrdanz said. “He never failed to put a smile on my face when I needed it most and that’s what I’ll miss most about him.”

Aikens said Thomas’ positive outlook on life, strong sense of humor and work ethic are the things he will not forget.

“He always had a big, big smile. And even though he had severe asthma, he worked hard and took a lot of pride in competing,” Aiken said.

Aiken said on the Wednesday before spring break, Thomas, who was something of a practical joker, ‘got him pretty good.’

“I went up to him, and he appeared to be crying, hard. I looked at him and the guys around us, and then Demerio looked up and said, “gotcha coach, you looked a little stupid there.”

Thomas excelled in shot put, Aiken said, and recently took 2nd place at the Mid Suburban League Indoor Freshman Sophomore Conference.

“He had a personal best at 44 feet. He excelled in it, and took a lot of pride in it,” Aiken said.

Teammates/Friends Learn of Thomas’ Death

On Monday morning, 250 of Thomas’ football and track and field teammates (and friends) gathered with Coach Aiken and Fremd Head Football Coach Lou Sponsel, where they learned that Thomas had passed away.

A moment of silence also was observed throughout Fremd High School before school began. 

“We thought it was important to talk with the kids early, and let them know what was available to them throughout the day, the school psychologist and counselors were on hand to support them,” Aiken said.

"Demerio was a very special young man, he had a big personality, and everyone at Fremd knew, and liked him," Sponsel said. "He will be missed."

“One thing we tried to get across was that everyone is going to respond differently,” Aiken said, “and not to get mad if everyone didn’t respond in the way the kids thought they should.”

Aiken said he witnessed first hand the strong bonds Thomas had with his friends.

“Brad took Demerio under his wing, he worked with him in the weight room and the two were close. Darius was a good friend to Demerio as well, I know their mothers are good friends, and they lived close to one another,” Aiken said.

“It’s even tougher, because he had a lot of life in him. There’s no reason-it’s so unfortunate. The kids think they are invincible at that age,” Aiken said.  

Ruehrdanz summed up how he, and likely countless others are feeling as they deal with the loss.

“His spirit will live on in the memories he blessed us with,” Ruehrdanz said. 

Services for Thomas have not yet been finalized, according to District 211.