Mendham Mourns Two Teens Who Died On New Year's

MENDHAM, NJ - The Mendham community is in mourning after the sudden loss of two teenagers over the New Year's holiday. Will Thomas, 19, died in the final hours of New Year's Eve while 18-year-old Matt LaRosa passed away New Year's Day.

Thomas was born in Colorado but called Mendham home and was a member of the West Morris Mendham class of 2019.

According to his family, it was through William they learned about the Autism community and tried to live a life of compassion towards people who think and behave differently. Being autistic is a lifelong journey of struggle, acceptance and perseverance, his family said.

"He tackled his differences head on but still struggled…like we all do. How do you make a teenager believe that there is no such thing as normal? In life's journey, all you can do is your best," they wrote in his obituary. "Throughout his short life, Will always loved with a pure heart and did the very best he could."

LaRosa was a senior at West Morris Mendham High School. He was an honors student and a member of the National Honor Society. He was an accomplished lacrosse player having spent years playing for Patriot Elite Lacrosse and multiple years on the Mendham High School Varsity Lacrosse team where he was proud to be named a Captain of the team, according to the obituary provided by the Bailey Funeral Home.

LaRosa truly loved time spent with his friends, and you would often find him at the gym, on the soccer or lacrosse fields, at a basketball court, out for a bite to eat or just hanging out with these beloved friends, his family noted.

The Morris Sussex Sports group posted they were saddened to report that Mendham High School unexpectedly lost LaRosa.

"Matthew was also a member of the Morris-Sussex sports community as the leader and captain of the Minuteman lacrosse team," they posted to Facebook. "We are calling on the community help support Matt's family, classmates, teammates, teachers and school officials as they deal with their tragic loss."

On Friday, the West Morris Regional School District postponed all levels of basketball in memory of LaRosa and Thomas.

Districts from around New Jersey, including Delbarton, Caldwell, Mountain Lakes and West Morris Central also shared their condolences alongside Morris Catholic on social media asking that the teens and their families remain in their prayers.

On Saturday the Mendham Boys Basketball team said they would take the court and asked that in honor of the losses the community has endured in the last few days that ask that everyone wear blue.

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