Large crowds attended the funeral of Stephen Grande, a 17-year-old senior at Oyster Bay High School who died on Oct. 1 at his home in Mill Neck. As reported in Newsday, the death is believed to have been as a result of a drug overdose. Stephen was expected to enter a drug rehabilitation program the next day.

The police were called to help traffic as students who were allowed by their parents to attend the funeral on Monday, tried to cope with their grief. Teachers and administrators joined the students in expressing their loss to the parents and family of the young man who played linebacker on the Baymen football team.

The school responded quickly to the tragedy and Dr. George Chesterton, OBEN superintendent of schools said, "I am looking at the best way to help our students and the community deal with this child's death."

Coincidentally, a PTA program has been in the works on drug and alcohol abuse.

"We are supportive of the PTA program on drugs and alcohol abuse on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m., at the Oyster Bay High School. The major focus is to educate parents and children on alcohol and drug abuse.

The speaker is Father Frank Pizzarelli of Hope House in Port Jefferson. He is a dynamic speaker," he said.

That commitment is a continuation of the way the school has dealt with the tragedy.

I first found out about the tragedy at Oyster Bay High School from a friend whose child attends Cold Spring Harbor High School. That school was informed that the annual homecoming game on Friday night was postponed because of the death of a football player. The game will be played on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

Tore Barbaccia, the football coach/attendance officer,

heard of the death first. He told athletic director Arnold Minkoff who called Dr. Chesterton. He put the school's crisis management plan into action.

The plan was adopted last year in the wake of the violence that had been affecting high schools all over the country.

It was a joint effort between high school Assistant Principal Frank Imperiale and high school nurse Anita Connor. The idea was to have a program in place before something happened.

Dr. Chesterton first called OBHS Principal Dr. Elizabeth Scott and Assistant Principal Frank Imperiale, who then put the plan into effect. That meant calling all the teachers so that they would know as they entered school on Friday.

Dr. Chesterton was especially appreciative of the help of school social worker Ralph James, retired, "who came and did an outstanding job working with students and staff in handling with this situation."

"He and other counselors worked with the students and

We will continue to be more vigilant during the coming weeks. We are always vigilant," he said.

Dr. Chesterton called the school board members Thursday night, to alert them of the sudden death of the young man. He indicated that the plan was in place and that he would contact the teachers too.

Frank Imperiale was at the school until midnight, making calls, on Thursday night.

The plan called for grief counselors to be available for the students. Besides Mr. James, high school social workers Carol Brown and Matt Brown; Heywood Barash, the school psychologist for the district and Ana Landron from Vernon all were on hand at the high school.

Guidance counselors from the high school, Herb Hargraves and Patricia Schnorr, and the guidance counselors from Vernon Maria Frankis and Daniel Stegner, as well as school nurse Anita Connors were there to be of help.

Board members Bev Zembko, Dr. John Palladino and Robin Dando went up to the school on Friday, to see how things were going.

The wake was held at the Oyster Bay Funeral Home on Saturday and Sunday.

Attending the wake, on Saturday evening were: Matt Brown and Carol Brown. Part of the plan was to have a school presence throughout the time: wherever students' needs may have been exhibited.

"There's an advantage to being part of a small school," said Dr. Chesterton. He and Mr. Malone, Mr. Imperiale and many staff members were there both days.

"The kids were grieving so," said a community member.

Sunday, Mr. Imperiale, Mr. Minkoff, school librarian Liz Erlichman, Lil Livolsi, the hall monitor was there, she is very close to the kids; Dr. Chesterton, Board President Thomas Capozzoli, Judy Wasilchuk, Board Vice President Beverly Zembko, board member Robin Dando and

Mrs. Beeman. "There was a wonderful representation of staff and administration," said Ms. Zembko.

The funeral was held at 9:30 a.m. on Monday at St. Dominic R.C. Church. The burial was at Locust Valley Cemetery.

"The sermon by Father Butler was very positive," said Dr. Chesterton. "He spoke to the students directly, to aid students in the future."

John Speece was one of those who attended the funeral on Monday.

Our prayers go out to the Grande family and to all of Stephen Grande's friends, who will miss him.

The staff of the Oyster Bay East Norwich School District should be commended for trying to help students cope with a tragedy of this magnitude.