Memorial scholarship established for 2012 Unionville graduate
09/25/2014 01:06AM ● By LevBy John
Chambless
Staff Writer
After
the death of 2012 Unionville High School graduate Andrew Joseph on Aug. 29, a
scholarship has been established to help students who share the passion he had
for music.
Joseph, 20, of Pocopson Township, passed away on Aug. 29 due to complications
of epilepsy. He was beginning his junior year at Tulane University in New
Orleans, La., and was majoring in business.
At the Sept. 15 meeting of the Unionville-Chadds Ford school board, member
Carolyn Daniels spoke about her attendance at the previous week's soccer game.
"Last Tuesday evening, I was able to attend a touching memorial for Andy
by the JV, varsity and freshman soccer teams," Daniels said. "They
dedicated the game to him. The evening was very moving, as Andy's music played
in the background, and Mr. Garber, the boys' varsity soccer coach, gave a
tribute to his former player and friend. The student section was filled, and
many current and former soccer players and their families came to show their
respect for this fine young man, and a team which becomes your family when your
child is on it.
"This tragedy has reminded me that, yes, we are a school district, but we
really are a community that cares," Daniels added.
Joseph was the lead singer of the band Windoview, which performed frequently in
the Kennett, West Chester, and Wilmington areas. The band had released two CDs
of original music, as well as several videos on their YouTube channel.
Reached by phone last week, Andrew's mother, Lori, said she wasn't able to
attend the soccer game tribute, but had seen photos of all the students and
parents who attended. "He was going into his third year of college, so it
was amazing they remembered him from years ago," she said. "There
were a lot of parents who traveled there as well, and they don't even live here
anymore. We are very overwhelmed by the support from the community."
Lori said she was a longtime volunteer with the school district in the middle
and high schools. "I was the projects coordinator for nine years,"
she said. "That means I took all the fundraising revenue and funneled it
into the PTO fund so teachers could write grants and then distribute the money.
And my kids were very much the same way. Andy's band was very popular, but they
always played at the Unionville Fair, did the spaghetti dinners, did the
after-prom. He was very involved in giving back."
A tribute is planned at the Unionville Fair Pageant this year, she said. During
the intermission, Leon Spencer will talk about Andy Joseph and show photos, and
Windoview's music will be played.
In an obituary posted online on Sept. 17, Joseph's family asked, "that you
remember Andy as the happy, fun-loving and kind-hearted young man he was. His
positive energy and infectious smile had an enormous impact on everyone around
him. His talent was inspiring and his compassion genuine. He truly will be
missed."
A celebration of Joseph's life is scheduled at Unionville High School on Nov.
29 at 4 p.m. A scholarship has been set up in his name that will be awarded to
a 2015 graduate who is interested in music. Donations may be made to: UHS
Activities c/o The Andy Joseph Memorial Scholarship Fund, 750 Unionville Rd,
Kennett Square PA, 19348.
Joseph is survived by his parents, Marc and Lori of Pocopson; his brother Alex,
currently attending Duke Law School; his sister Mallory, currently attending
Lehigh University; maternal grandparents Jean and Frank Deptola of Cape Cod,
Mass.; paternal grandparents Fred and Arlene Joseph of Fairfield, Conn.;
several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, e-mail [email protected].