Aurora School Mourns Death of Student Who Drowned in Lake

Photo: Ivan Echevarria, courtesy of East Aurora School District 131

AURORA, IL — Staff, students and teachers at East Aurora High School are mourning the loss of an 18-year-old student after he was swept away into a lake Thursday afternoon.

Ivan Echevarria and a friend were walking near Lake Michigan when Echevarria was swept into the lake near Diversey Harbor, according to Chicago Police.

Echevarria was a senior at East Aurora High School, according to a release from East Aurora School District 131.

“He had previously attended Simmons Middle School, where he was an honor roll student. Echevarria was the youngest of four siblings,” the release said.

East Aurora High School staff member Kim Kereluik said Echevarria was a funny and friendly student who had a lot of friends, according to the release.

“He had one of those personalities that attracted people,” Kereluik said in the release. “He had that ‘it’ factor; he won people over.”

Kereluik said Echevarria was interested in working in information technology or as a mechanic. He was passionate about cars and computers. He had been part of the East Aurora Chess Club at the high school.

East Aurora High School counselor Brian Melvin had met with Echevarria a few weeks ago to talk about graduation and future goals. Echevarria had started to open up this year about his plans.

“He was a quiet kid but very popular,” Melvin said in the release. “He was a normal high school kid who wanted to be successful. This is very sad that this happened.”

The district has extended its deepest condolences to the family.