The P.A. Walsh Elementary School community is saddened by the
death of one of its second grade students Feb. 6: Favian Diaz, 7,
who did not survive surgery for a brain tumor.
The P.A. Walsh Elementary School community is saddened by the death of one of its second grade students Feb. 6: Favian Diaz, 7, who did not survive surgery for a brain tumor.
Favian’s family members described him as “polite, gifted and always full of love, you could find his smiling face in any crowd – watching, learning, giggling, playing, sharing.”
Tirzah Kirsch, Favian’s teacher, said she tried to prepare her class.
“Before he died, we told the children he was really sick and tried to explain that he had a brain tumor just to prepare them in case he didn’t survive the weekend,” she said. “We didn’t learn he didn’t survive the weekend until late afternoon Monday.
“On Tuesday, the principal and I told the kids. We remembered his smile, how kind he was, told them it was okay to cry and to grieve, and that it was a very sad thing that happened.”
His parents and his younger sister said his memory will live on in them. They described him as “an extraordinary boy with an obedient heart, sharing his warmth with the downcast and praying for those who lacked the faith he himself had.”
This was the second death P.A. Walsh Elementary has had to cope with in two years. Last year, the staff and students mourned first grader Anthony Covarubbia, 6, when he died of unknown causes. A memorial was held for him at the school in June.
Kirsch, who said that six of her students were in Anthony’s class last year, said that the school will probably hold a memorial for Favian also.
“Last year, the Home & School Club handled it, and they installed a bird bath for Anthony, who loved birds,” she said. “Maybe we’ll create a children’s garden in that area; my classroom is on another part of campus, and I have daffodils there, so maybe they will put Favian’s memorial there. He was an avid reader so the memorial may have something to do with that.”
Kirsch said the students in his class miss their friend but are dealing with their grief.
“I think we’re realizing that it’s okay to be happy and smile again,” she said. “I have not had to deal with the loss of a student before. I was able to cope a little better, I think, because I did know in advance that he was sick.”
The discovery of the brain tumor was quite sudden, just before the surgery.
“His mom had taken him to the doctor with massive headaches,” Kirsch said. “He had them all the time. But they didn’t find anything. Brain tumors in children are rare. But his mom was really good and kept looking. We were working on changing his diet because he was getting sluggish; we got his glasses prescription updated, we tried everything we could think of.”
Doctors eventually suspected a brain tumor; his family took him to Oakland for a brain scan, then to Sacramento for surgery.
Funeral services were held Feb. 12 at First Baptist Church in Gilroy under the direction of Habing Family Funeral Home.
The famly asks that any donations be made to a trust fund at Washington Mutual Bank, account #4891553426.
