Erik and Tim Grohman graduate from Montessori school - 1979
 
Diane O'Neill, Erik's first grade teacher, spoke next. She said:

Good morning, I'm Diane O'Neill. I was Erik's first grade teacher at Paul V. Fly Elementary School. My first memory of Erik was when he was just about four years old; he was reading a book in the office while his mother registered his sister for school. He talked to anyone who spoke to him.

When he came to my classroom, I remember his uniqueness, his wonderful smile, his delightful sense of humor, and how he said, "Good morning!" to me every day as he entered the classroom. He was a joy to teach because he had a real passion for learning. I feel he passed his enthusiasm as well as his encouragement on to his classmates.

I've thought of Erik every day since first grade because at the end of the school year, Erik gave me a small plant that I took home and put on my windowsill. Well, the plant died, but I just kept watering it. It came back to life, and then it died again and came back again. This happened several times until I moved it into my kitchen, and now I guess it has the correct place and sunlight because it is flourishing. You could say the plant is just like Erik: his influence, his memories, and his spirit will always be with us.

We will all have our memories of him and when I look at his plant, I will smile and know that he is at peace, and I will pray for him.

Diane O'Neill