Marian Catholic students gather to remember senior
Justin Young, varsity defensive end, was killed in car crash
On Dave Mattio field, where Marian Catholic senior Justin Young played defensive end, hundreds of friends and family gathered Wednesday to remember the popular student who died in a car accident March 18.
“When I found out my cousin passed, I was so hurt like a part of me left,” said Christopher Thompson from Park Forest, who organized the candlelight vigil. “I feel like I’ve been asleep and I just keep waiting to wake up. He was like my little brother. We have memories and we have to live on, we have to be strong and live forever young.”
Marian Catholic senior Mark Martin, from Chicago, was said he was honored to remember Young.
“He always had a smile on his face and always tried to make everyone happy,” Martin said. “He never let his friends down. He would be there for anyone, especially when nobody else would.”
Young, a member of the Marian Catholic Spartan football team, was also honored before Marian Catholic’s first football game of the season Saturday. He had played football since he was in grade school, playing for the Matteson Bears, Frankfort Falcons and was number No. 15 for Marian Catholic.
“He was always smiling, just an amazing kid” said Beth Mason Fleming, from Chicago Heights, a Marian Catholic football mom.
Young had been e-learning since March of last year. Last week was the first time he had been back in the school.
“It was the first time I had seen Justin in over a year” Fleming said. “I didn’t recognize him because his hair was longer. He was so happy to be back. I promised him I would bake him his favorite, brownies.”
Fleming said she would bring brownies to Young’s visitation Thursday at Kosary Funeral
home in Evergreen Park.
“His smile lit up the room,” Fleming said. “He was so happy to be Marian, he was a kid that everyone loved.”
One of Young’s friends, Evan Adekoya, of Country Club Hills, said he would like to see Young’s football number retired and a plaque remembering him near the gym. “A lot of the guys on the football team were really affected by this,” Adekoya said. “I wanted to come out and support them and remember my good friend. He was a loving and kind person. He was a joy to be around. I loved him.”
In a statement on the Marian Catholic website, Principal Steve Tortorello said Young “was a kind, quiet young man who left a lasting impression on his friends, teachers, and coaches by treating everyone with respect and positivity. He will be greatly missed.”
Taylor Trojan, a senior from Homewood, remembers meeting Justin her freshman year.
“He was one of the first students I met,” Trojan said.
“We were partnered up for a get-to-know-you project. He was so humble on and off the football field. He was so respectful, with no ego. It’s hard to find people like that in the world.”
Young was killed in a two-car crash on Governors Highway near Polk Avenue outside Richton Park. Cook County Sheriff ’s police said a Buick sedan driven by a 35-year old woman crossed the centerline and collided with Young’s Ford coupe.
Both Young and the other driver, Ashley Taylor Aristuk, of Bourbonnais, died from their injuries, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office, which ruled the deaths accidental.
Marian Catholic held a prayer service March 19, and there are photos of Young in the hallways.
“He was the greatest representation of how God works,” Hanna Green said. “Don’t let go of his legacy.”
Young’s funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Kosary Funeral home in Evergreen Park.