Mourning Gary
Grieving father: Remember son ‘for his life,’ not for its ending

By Mike Caputo

Gary DeVercelly, an 18-year-old management major from Long Beach, Calif., died on Friday morning with his family at his side.

DeVercelly died after hospitalization for alcohol poisoning after a night of heavy drinking at Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house early Thursday morning.

On Saturday, a memorial service was held at Gill Chapel. In the front of a packed Chapel
filled with grief-stricken Rider students, faculty, administrators and other friends of the community, Gary’s father, Gary DeVercelly Sr., pleaded with the audience to remember his son in a better light. When the father spoke, a collective gasp emitted from an already teary audience.

Remember Gary “for his life, not for the way it ended,” he said.

Kira Camfield, 18, a close friend of Gary’s who lives in California, was troubled to hear and see the media’s depiction of her late friend.

“Being that he was only 18 he already had an impact on so many of us,” said Camfield. “How dare anyone categorize him as something he’s not? Because he’s an inspiration.”
Gary DeVercelly Sr. always viewed his son as a “big brother” to his siblings and as he matured, Gary started to become his father’s “hero.” Gary was known for taking a keen interest in his younger siblings, Noah, 11 and Emily, 13, said the father.

“Gary was such a natural at this role, he took it into his other relationships in his life,” said a statement released by the DeVercelly family. “It seemed that everywhere he went, Gary touched people and impacted them in a positive way. He was a man you could depend on who
had an easygoing manner.”

Camfield vouched for the family’s description of Gary, elaborating on his “easygoing manner.”

“Gary was always the guy anyone could talk to about anything at all,” said Camfield. “He was a great listener and gave some of the best advice. He was insightful. He was an all-around guy
and just a ball of life — always happy and always smiling.”

Dr. Kelly Lake, an adjunct professor in the English Department, expounded upon the qualities Gary exuded during the composition class she taught. A teary-eyed Lake had difficulty keeping her emotions together during reflection of Gary at the memorial service.

Lake mentioned Gary’s active presence in the classroom, calling him a “leader,” a good
communicator with a sense of humor, and the class “comedian.” She said Gary would always sit in the back row center where he could have the best view of everyone in the class. Lake complimented Gary’s ability to creatively put his thoughts down on paper through his reflections and essays. Gary always handed in his articles through the electronic drop box with the playful message, “Here it is, enjoy,” said Lake.

Classmates “always told him in a loving way: ‘shut up Gary,’” she added.

“Lefty,” as his father called Gary for his passion for baseball and southpaw pitching style, decided on Rider, which is thousands of miles away from his hometown in Long Beach, Calif., because he felt comfortable upon his first visit, said DeVercelly Sr. Gary knew right away that Rider was the place for him and his parents supported the decision.

“He knew what he wanted to do and who he wanted to be very early in life,” said DeVercelly’s family. “He always had a goal and a plan to achieve it. But the people in his life were his first priority. His family, friends and teammates all knew they could count on Gary, no matter what. He was not great at everything he did in life, just great at the important things.”

Gary aspired to become a general manager for a professional baseball league. At Wilson High School in Long Beach, where he graduated in 2006, he played on its varsity squad.
According to the Long Beach Press-Telegram, the Wilson High School varsity team honored Gary on Friday by wearing the No. 4 he wore as a member of the Bruins.

The DeVercellys arrived home in Long Beach late Sunday night. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.