Friends, community struggling with Schenectady teen’s death

They’re missing him everywhere: at the pool, where he should be wearing lifeguard gear; in choir, where he could be found playing guitar; online, making videos; or in person, attentively listening to music.

Draven Rodriguez may not have known how popular he was before he took his life Thursday night. Now his friends are trying to understand how he, of all people, could have committed suicide.

He seemed to have it all together, they said.

They were left analyzing every word of their final conversations, searching for clues that could have tipped them off.

It was a hard end to the school vacation week, and the school district held an emergency counseling session Saturday.

This week, school officials are continuing to hold counseling sessions for those grieving his death, running from 4 to 8 p.m.

They will continue to offer counseling for as long as students need it, they said.

But adults are also stunned.

Vincent Giordano, the photographer who helped create the yearbook photo of Rodriguez holding his cat, said he never saw any indication that Rodriguez was unhappy.

The school district never agreed to let the photo share space in the yearbook among the more uniform senior portraits, but Rodriguez was able to reach a compromise with high school Principal Diane Wilkinson. She agreed to pose in another photo of the same style with Rodriguez, his cat Mr. Bigglesworth and her dog, also taken by Giordano. The picture, they agreed, would go on the principal’s page accompanied by a message promoting animal rescue and adoption.

Sue West, a folk musician who met Rodriguez last summer, said she had been impressed by the young man’s guitar knowledge.

Rodriguez listened to her play at Arthur’s Market and asked questions during breaks. After the show, they sat and talked — and he came back again for the next day’s show.

Then they stayed in touch through Facebook.

“Normally I wouldn’t friend a minor,” West said. “Meeting him was definitely a highlight of our trip.”

He was a “fellow folky,” she added, and she was happy to give him advice about guitar strumming.

“He had a lot of questions about specific techniques. He had a lot of intelligent questions,” she said. “We certainly intend to go back there and play again, and we expected to see Draven.”

On Rodriguez’s Facebook page, other friends left tributes, memories stretching back to elementary school.

“You always knew how to rock that Mohawk. Whether it was down and green, or spiked and black,” wrote Mikayla Mclean, referring to Rodriguez’s unusual hair in fourth grade. She posted school pictures to showcase his style.

Others said they couldn’t understand why someone like him could commit suicide.

“You were such a unique, confident person. You had the whole world in your hands. Funny, brilliant, kind, accepting, talented,” wrote Mikayla Foster, who added that everyone loved him.

“You treated everyone with the most respect, and tenderness,” she wrote. “I can’t believe you’re gone now, Draven. Some of the strongest people hide the worst pain.”

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

I’m going to take next swim day off. Because I’m going to expect to see him there in life guard gear and . . . I won’t.

— Zoe White

i met him from another friend during a game stream he was doing a few years ago. he made eric draven name puns. but now he’s gone and i cant talk to him ever again.

— Taemyn Jae-Hee Bruce

I wish I could have been there for him like I used to be. We have all lost a smile in the hallway, a great friend, and an incredible mind.

— Erin Thies

I know you were too wonderful and unique for this world, but I wish you could have stayed longer. You will be missed like no other. I would give anything to still be picking you up tomorrow.

— Leslie Osta

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