West Babylon Student Mourned At Lindenhurst Candle Lighting: 'A Beautiful Soul'

WEST BABYLON, NY — Friends, classmates and family members gathered in Lindenhurst this week to remember Liorah David, a West Babylon Senior High School student whose sudden death has left the school community grieving.

David, 18, died Monday, June 1, Superintendent Yiendhy Farrelly said in a message to the district community Tuesday.

Subscribe

“It is with an incredibly heavy heart and profound sadness that I write to you today to share the devastating news that one of our senior high school students, Liorah David, has passed away,” Farrelly said.

Grief counselors and mental health professionals are available at West Babylon Senior High School, according to the district.

“As we come together to process the tragic loss of a young life, we recognize that students and staff may experience emotions that are difficult to process,” Farrelly said.

A candle lighting in David’s memory was held Wednesday at Venetian Shores in Lindenhurst, where classmates and friends shared memories of a student they described as kind, generous, stylish and welcoming.

Lorenzo Ruiz, West Babylon’s Culture Club advisor, said he and members of the club organized the vigil to remember David and “share how kind and special she was with everyone.”

Ruiz said David was “a beautiful soul” and a major part of Culture Club.

“She helped organize the Bollywood dance routine, she was a true leader and a kind person,” Ruiz said. “I will remember her for her kindness, smile and her compassion to help others and teach her Indian culture.”

Ruiz said Culture Night “was a success because of her and her dedication.”

“I will miss her tremendously,” he said.

Several students who spoke at the candle lighting said David made others feel included, especially through dance and Culture Club.

One speaker said David helped teach students dance steps and “never raised her voice.” Another said David made sure everyone was included “every step of the way.”

“She wanted everybody to feel good, everybody involved,” one student said.

Another student remembered meeting David in a school hallway, where David complimented her outfit and introduced herself.

“She was a very beautiful person, she was a very bright person, she was a very kind person,” the student said.

Friends also remembered David as generous and thoughtful, saying she gave gifts, checked on others and stood up for people when they needed support.

Sarah Moody, David’s aunt, said David loved going into New York City.

“She was definitely a city girl,” Moody said. “She did everything possible to be as giving as she could.”