Skateboarder’s Death Prompts Spontaneous Memorials, and Local Schools React

The death of a popular 17-year-old Studio City athlete, , who was killed in a skateboarding accident last week, has prompted spontaneous, tearful memorials and warnings by local school principals about skateboarding safety.

Friends gathered with candles and walked slowly around the neighborhood of Amanda Street in Studio City on Saturday, after learning of Jordan's death. The high school student died of injuries Jan. 28 after falling off his skateboard and hitting his head.

“About 20 or so teenagers were milling about in a somber vigil with flowers and candles in the late afternoon,” said Victoria Jones, who lived in the neighborhood for 15 years. “It was very sad.”

The vigil continued into the night as the youths quietly walked through the streets.

“It’s a tragedy,” said Principal Joe Martinez, who sent out e-mails to parents of his students because Jordan’s youngest brother, Jack, is a fourth-grader at Carpenter. “I talked to the boys’ father over the weekend and we discussed how to best handle the situation at the school.”

Martinez and a school psychologist went to Jack’s fourth-grade class on Monday to discuss with students how to be sensitive to and supportive of their classmate when he returns to school.

“At first, the father said that Jack may be coming back to school this week, but they have a lot of family from out of town and he hasn’t come back to school yet,” the principal said. “We told his fellow classmates what happened and to treat him the same way and to not bring it up unless he does, and most of all to be a friend and be supportive.”

On behalf of the Weisses, Martinez notified Carpenter parents of the accident and gave contact information for the family. “I have been in contact with the family and expressed my deepest condolences on behalf of our school,” he stated.

Martinez also passed along information about the memorial service for Jordan this Saturday at the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, where Jordan was a senior. Students and teachers at Buckley have been in mourning all week.

Larry Dougherty, the head of Buckley, wrote the families:

“It is with unspeakable sadness that I write with news of the untimely death of Jordan Weiss, a member of our senior class and son of Rabia Cebeci and Philip Weiss. He died last evening from head trauma sustained from a skateboarding accident."

He called Jordan "a model student" who was "admired by his classmates and respected by his teachers."

"He was a scholar and an athlete. The baseball team has lost a star and a starting pitcher who was working hard in the preseason to build up his strength. Jordan was also a friend to many. He had a great sense of humor and a positive, upbeat attitude towards everything and everyone.”

Dougherty added, “The loss of Jordan's positive presence will leave a hole at Buckley and in our hearts, and the shock of his loss will impact our students and our entire community in many ways. Jordan's brother, Jarret, is a sophomore at Buckley, and his parents are very active in our community. ... In the days and weeks to come we will need to come together to support each other and the Weiss family.”

Buckley's soccer games were canceled, and a semiformal dance was postponed.

On Sunday, the Buckley campus was opened from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for students to talk and share memories of Jordan. Professional counselors were also on hand. On Monday morning, an assembly was held at the school, which has an enrollment of 770 students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.

Although the circumstances of the fatal accident were still unclear, Martinez suggested that the lack of a skate park in the area compromised the safety of local skateboarders. He noted that last year the Carpenter campus had a problem with youths climbing over the school's fences to skateboard on the campus after school hours.

“They were skating off the roof of some of the buildings and even leaving stuff up there,” Martinez said. “There really needs to be a local skateboard park close by somewhere. Kids want to play, and it would be better if they were in controlled, safe settings.”

, and schools in the eastern boundaries of Studio City have also been invaded by weekend skateboarders who climb the school fences and skate around campus.

“We have had to call the school police every weekend this year practically; it’s very dangerous,” said Valley View Principal . “They have scratched up all these new luncheon tables that we just got this year. I wouldn’t mind it if they didn’t create vandalism as well. But the neighbors watch out for us and call the LAUSD school police, or if it’s more of a problem, they call the Los Angeles police.”

Klein said of Jordan's death, “This is a terrible tragedy. If only they had a safe place to do this, where they can be monitored, and where they can make sure the proper safety gear is on. Until then, something like this could happen again.”

Meanwhile, friends can leave messages on Jordan's Legacy.com page, where teachers and friends have written memories.

At the request of the Weiss family, the Jordan Weiss Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established at Buckley in Jordan's honor. Awards will be granted from the fund to students who embody the qualities central to Jordan’s character and who otherwise might not have the chance to attend the Buckley School. 

In addition, the school will rename its Class of 2011 Legacy Fund "The Jordan Weiss Memorial Scholarship Fund."

Click here to make a contribution to The Jordan Weiss Memorial Scholarship Fund, or send checks payable to "The Buckley School" (Please designate "Jordan Weiss Memorial" on the notes line) to:

Development Office
The Buckley School
3900 Stansbury Ave.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423