Mourning A Classmate; Massena Students Remember Rochefort - Speed To Blame

MASSENA - On a chilly Wednesday morning, Massena Central High School students gathered under a gray sky to remember a fellow classmate in their own way.

Standing at the state Route 37 and East Orvis Street site where Robert W. Rochefort, 17, had died Tuesday in a one-car accident, the students wrapped their arms around each other to provide comfort.

Many of them had tears in their eyes as they stood silently in prayer near a makeshift memorial set up with flowers in remembrance of their fallen friend.

It was a somber time for those students and others in the community as they mourned the loss of the high school senior.

"Everybody loved him," said Amy Pond, area supervisor for McDonald's, where Mr. Rochefort had worked for about a year.

"When walking into the restaurant, you could just feel the atmosphere. Everybody is visibly upset in both restaurants as well," she said.

Mr. Rochefort worked at the McDonald's on state Route 37 near the St. Lawrence Centre Mall. But Ms. Pond said, like she did, the manager of the Main Street McDonald's also stayed late Tuesday night "because so many of her high school kids were visibly upset."

They had brought in some employees Wednesday from the Malone McDonald's to fill in if the local students weren't up to the task, she said.

"He was just popular, the All-American kid. He was absolutely like the ideal employee. He was such a cooperative and willing person," she said.

In fact, Ms. Pond said, Mr. Rochefort was more than willing to help out when the renovated McDonalds opened its doors on Main Street.

"They had a 35 cent cheeseburger night twice at the new location and he went down and helped. He was so productive. He was just a willing worker, willing to do whatever was necessary. He loved to help out," she said.

Ms. Pond said they were shocked to learn of Mr. Rochefort's passing, and the company had been very supportive of their efforts to help the employees get through the situation.

"I'll be over here probably the rest of the week as support. Our owner, Mr. Napoli, said do whatever we can to help these people," she said.

Massena Central School Superintendent Roger B. Clough II described the atmosphere Wednesday at the high school as "very docile."

He said there was a meeting Wednesday morning between high school Principal Alan C. Oliver, counselors from the high school, junior high school and elementary, school psychologists and members of the athletic department.

"We met with the faculty to explain the situation and provided them with information regarding the accident to be read to their students at each first period class," Mr. Clough said.

He said they had counselors available, and a "grieving center" was open in the library. That, he said, was where school counselors were available throughout the day and the remainder of the week to assist anyone through the difficult time.

Mary K. Jones, director of Family Support Services for Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley, also joined the district's counselors to provide counseling support.

"Her expertise and assistance proved to be invaluable and was greatly appreciated," according to the superintendent.

There was also a memorial wall put up in the school lobby.

"A memorial wall was set up in the lobby of the high school, where students could pay tribute to Robert and express their feelings and share memories. This activity was well-received and the students had an opportunity to provide emotional support to one another through the sharing of their writings. We plan on giving that to his parents," Mr. Clough said.

At the end of the day Wednesday, he set they met again with faculty and staff to debrief everyone on the events that occurred throughout the day.

"We outlined the supports that would be in place for the remainder of the week," he said.

A Facebook page titled R.I.P. Robert Rochefort continued to grow with subscribers on Wednesday, pushing over the 1,000 mark throughout the day. That number had been 693 earlier Wednesday morning.

The site gives friends an opportunity to share their memories of the young man, who was reportedly set to work in the nuclear field in the U.S. Navy after graduation.

"I'll never forget pre calc with rob. He was always laughing and never put down anyone which made him an amazing person to get along with. I still cant believe ur gone and when its my time to go i'm pretty sure we'll meet up and chill for years to come. I'll never forget u and i hope ur doin well up there, RIP Rob," one student wrote.

Another student wrote, "He was just always smiling and joking you. Happy I mean I've known him for years but was never really that good friends with him. I remember giving him rides home from Jr. High sometimes. Frisbee idk. He just always made me laugh and was goofy ya know? Far too good to be gone. What is life?"

Calling hours for Mr. Rochefort will be held from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday at the Phillips Memorial Home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Church.