Danville To Honor Ben Curry On Anniversary Of Teen's Death

DANVILLE, CA — Benjamin Lee Curry's parents will hold an online vigil Friday in memory of their son, who drowned in the San Ramon Valley High School swimming pool during a physical education class his freshman year two years ago.

Last year some 200 people turned out for a vigil held on the first anniversary of Ben's death. This year, his parents encourage the public to share reflections, photos and videos to TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or post on a memorial website, as DanvilleSanRamon.com first reported.

Mom Karen Curry told Patch that she hopes the anniversary vigils help Ben's classmates and loved ones continue to work through the shock of a life lost too soon and process their grief. And as that process continues, Mrs. Curry said she hopes people don't just remember "the sadness of losing him, but the happiness that he brought to his friends."

"For us, it's important that we always remember him," she said. "This was a way to do it."

Ben was 15 when he died. Mrs. Curry said she wanted to ensure they reached the community, including young people who knew her son. Social media is a way to do just that.

Mrs. Curry remembers her son as a smart, goofy, fun-loving kid who was too busy socializing to pay close attention in class. He was active; he loved basketball and "was at the park from the time he could walk," she said.

Ben loved Snoopy so much that he wore shoes and shirts featuring the cartoon character. A memorial plaque in Ben's memory at Sycamore Park, where he liked to play with friends, even features Snoopy, she said.

The public is encouraged to head over to Ben's memorial site here on Friday, at any hour, to honor the Danville native. Ben's family has created Instagram and TikTok accounts for the occasion under the handle @irememberben and social media posters are asked to use the hashtag #rememberben.

Learn more about the vigil here.