Stefan Ankle, 19, of Meriden: Wilcox Valedictorian, Avid Volunteer and Alice in Chains Fan

Via Wallingford and Yalesville Funeral Homes

Read more about Ankle’s life here

Stefan-Dayne Ankle, 19, of Meriden, passed away March 1, 2015 at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He was born on March 6, 1995 and was the beloved son of Dahlia Allen-Ankle and Garnett Ankle. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his aunts Melita Allen and her husband Jose DeBarros, Norma McKenzie and Patrice Ankle; his uncles Llewelyn Allen and his wife Audrey, Neville Allen, Brenton Allen and his wife Elsie, Louis Allen and his wife Sara, Aaron Allen and his wife Zilpha; cousins Damian Allen, Davina Allen, Matthieu Allen, Alyson Allen, Adrian Allen, Ariana Allen, Andre Allen, Shaun McKenzie, Kareem McKenzie, Jason Allen, Dane Allen, Abigail Allen, Adriel Allen, Aldon Allen, Peter- Gaye Ankle, Brandan Spaulding, Ryan Ankle, Leon Ankle, Onecia Strachan and Marlon Brown; many extended family members and numerous friends.

Stefan loved participating in extracurricular activities while he was in school. He was captain of the soccer team and was a member of the riflery and track and field teams. Stefan was a straight A student all throughout his school career. He was the president of the Wilcox chapter of the National Honor Society. He was also valedictorian of his class - Wilcox class of 2013. Despite that, he always remained humble and was greatly loved and admired by his teachers and peers. He never missed a day of high school and was never tardy!

Despite all his school activities, Stefan still made time to give back to his community. He volunteered at the Meriden Boys and Girls club where he assisted students with their homework. He acted as a mentor for students participating in the FIRST Lego League, a club, at Thomas Edison Middle School. He participated in multiple blood drives, the annual “Walk robotics for Autism” and the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Cycle of Life fundraiser for a number of consecutive years. He also volunteered time at the ‘Trail of Terror”, a community event from which funds are donated to a number of charities. Additionally, he participated in the annual penguin plunge which raises money for the Special Olympics.

His family will receive relatives and friends in The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main St. Ext., Wallingford, on Friday, March 13, 2015, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2015, at 9 a.m. promptly, at the First Congregational Church of Meriden, 62 Colony St., Meriden. Interment will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Meriden

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that contributions be made to GUS Robotics Team 228, or to Stefan Ankle Scholarship/Award.

For online condolences, please visit www.wallingfordfh.com.