Forgotten fund builds memorial

Money rarely lies around in public education, but an inquisitive e-mail led to the discovery of a forgotten fund for former Northwood Middle School student Skip Fanning, who died in an accident almost 27 years ago.

When administrators discovered the $4,000 raised in Fanning’s memory still existed, they decided to honor him and two other former students by purchasing a greenhouse, redeveloping a dingy courtyard and establishing an award in his honor. On Friday, two eighth-grade students received the first Skip Fanning Award and the school dedicated the courtyard – Northwood Memorial Garden – to the deceased students’ memory. The courtyard is located on the grounds of Northwood, 13120 N. Pittsburg St.

The lost-and-found fund remains a mystery.

“There was money given, it was put into an account and lost,” said Principal Dave Stenersen, who received an e-mail from Jeff Clark, Fanning’s former childhood friend, this summer asking about the money. “I don’t know what happened, but I was like, that’s not right, let’s fix it.”

Seventh-grader Fanning died when the paint thinner he was using to paint his model cars spilled and caused a furnace to catch fire.

Clark, 40, who flew in from Chicago for the ceremony, said he grew curious about the fund when he ran into the boys’ Little League coach this summer.

“I came away thinking there should be something done, whatever it is. I sure would like something for Skip.” Clark e-mailed Stenersen, and the money hunt began.

Janet Fanning, 70, Skip’s mother, was surprised to find the fund wasn’t being used. “We checked on it a few years back, and nobody seemed to know anything,” she said. “So we assumed it was still going.”

Its rediscovery coincided with an idea from life sciences teacher Dave Gamon. He approached Stenersen about creating a memorial for two former students, Amanda Bunch, who died of leukemia last year, and Renae Bohman, who was killed in a car accident three years ago.

“It was like all the pieces coming together in divine orchestration,” said Gamon, who started doodling ideas for a memorial courtyard while at Bunch’s funeral.

Stenersen also engaged Northwood’s leadership class on how to best use the fund. Bohman’s father runs Genesis Granite and agreed to design three plaques that will sit in the courtyard and honor the students. Bunch’s and Bohman’s rectangular plaques will frame the entrance to the homemade greenhouse where students will tend plants and conduct science experiments. Shop-class students finished constructing the greenhouse, known as Renae’s and Amanda’s garden, from a kit the day before the ceremony took place.

Fanning’s plaque will greet visitors as they walk into the courtyard. Each year, the winners of the Skip Fanning award will have their names engraved on the smooth granite plaque next to Fanning’s picture.

Fellow students will select two eighth-graders for the award annually based on character and leadership abilities. The first winners of the award, 14-year-olds Alyssa Cote and Tommy Sheppard, were announced at the ceremony.

Gamon worked closely with Bunch and Bohman and believes the award and courtyard are a fitting tribute to the three students. “They were lights that really shown brightly in our public schools,” he said. “It’s nice to think even after their death their lights continue to shine at Northwood.”