Tournament, scholarship honor memory of high school senior

Date: 3/13/2012

March 12, 2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

LONGMEADOW — If the student organized volleyball tournament on March 8 was any indication, a fallen member of the Longmeadow High School community will be long remembered by many people.

Students, led by junior Frank Elder, hosted a 24-team volleyball tournament in the high school gym to help raise money for the scholarship established in memory of George Ginopoulos, a 17-year-old high school senior who died suddenly on Jan. 17.

Nearly 200 members of the student body and faculty joined in the action, donning shirts bearing their lost classmate's name.

"We knew that George loved volleyball in gym [class], so we thought it was a great idea," Elder said. "There are a couple hundred kids here and they all look like they're having a lot of fun. Longmeadow's a really small town, so everyone knows everyone. When someone passes away, it has an effect on all of us."

James Ginopoulos, George's father, said he was floored by the amount of support the school has shown for his family.

"The enthusiasm they are showing here at Longmeadow High School today just gives me so much of an uplifting spirit knowing that my son's spirit is in the building today," he said.

George's mother, Ann Marie Ginopoulos, was also moved by the outpouring from the student body, adding that she was sure her son wouldn't have wanted so much fuss to be made over him.

"He was very humble. He would do anything for anybody else, but he would be embarrassed if he saw this. He was just a sweet person," she said.

Elder said he remembered George as someone always willing to go the extra mile to help out.

"He was a great person. A lot of people loved him and he helped out with everyone," he said."During his free blocks he would go down and be teachers' assistant for no credit at all."

James Ginopoulos said he and his wife had always known what a good person their son was, but they were reassured by seeing so many people who had the same memories, whether they be from the school or other parts of the community.

"We've gotten support from all aspects, all angles and every area of the community," he said. "I didn't know how many lives he had actually touched. That's what amazes me and that's what's been able to help us carry on."

In addition to the volleyball tournament, Elder explained that a 32-team dodge ball tournament has also been arranged for March 14 in the gym. All proceeds from both events, as well as sales of lanyards and bracelets in George's honor, will go to the newly established scholarship fund.

James Ginopoulos explained that the total amount raised will be split up and dispersed annually over the next 10 to 12 years to a student who participated in Longmeadow High School's business class. He estimated that annual awards would be approximately $700 to $800. The Ginopoulos family will make the final decision on the award, based on teacher recommendations.

"The teachers will make recommendations by submitting two or three students' names. I would like to have it go to someone who exemplified George's attitudes — someone who cares, who doesn't need a pat on the back or recognition all the time, someone who is down to earth and and asks the question, 'How can I help? What can I do to make this better?'" he said.

The cause of George's death is not yet known.

"We're still waiting on the autopsy report, which I feel is taking exceptionally long," James Ginopoulos said. "But I don't know the conditions and I've tried to remain positive through all of this."