James "Jamie" Grabowski was killed on Feb 2, 2004 near Northeastern University when he was struck by a sport utility vehicle during the chaos following the New England Patriots Super Bowl victory.
Grabowski, the son of veteran State Police Captain Dan Grabowski, had attended St. John's Preparatory School in Danvers along with his two brothers. The school community turned out in full force for the funeral, filling two buses with boys dressed in black and gray charcoal suits. They lined up shoulder to shoulder in front of the church, facing the procession as it left for the grave site.
Grabowski also attended the Coast Guard Academy. That school was also represented, along with a large contingent of Boston and State Police, who stood as honor guards at the doors of the church and provided a motorcycle escort for the funeral party.
But the funeral Mass was more than ceremony; it was about hope and a young man's spirit.
Jamie Grabowski, who was a state champion wrestler and a two-time academic All American, had a sense of humor.
His mother, Patricia, played on it when she wrote the eulogy delivered by Sergeant Steven Hines, a family friend from the State Police.
Patricia Grabowski recalled the midnight Mass she attended with her son this past Christmas, where they happened to find themselves sitting behind a row of very attractive young women. Jamie took particular notice of the seating arrangement.
"Mom, I never realized that churches were open in the middle of the night," Hines quoted Grabowski as saying, while smiles came to faces stained with tears. "I would have come more often. This is a great place to pick up girls."
Those who knew Grabowski well appreciated the chance to embrace his lighthearted ways one last time.
"He had an incredible ability to make people smile," said Jay Pawlyk, who was Grabowski's English teacher at St. John's.
"He had an infectious smile. He was just a good, young man."
Grabowski, the son of veteran State Police Captain Dan Grabowski, had attended St. John's Preparatory School in Danvers along with his two brothers. The school community turned out in full force for the funeral, filling two buses with boys dressed in black and gray charcoal suits. They lined up shoulder to shoulder in front of the church, facing the procession as it left for the grave site.
Grabowski also attended the Coast Guard Academy. That school was also represented, along with a large contingent of Boston and State Police, who stood as honor guards at the doors of the church and provided a motorcycle escort for the funeral party.
But the funeral Mass was more than ceremony; it was about hope and a young man's spirit.
Jamie Grabowski, who was a state champion wrestler and a two-time academic All American, had a sense of humor.
His mother, Patricia, played on it when she wrote the eulogy delivered by Sergeant Steven Hines, a family friend from the State Police.
Patricia Grabowski recalled the midnight Mass she attended with her son this past Christmas, where they happened to find themselves sitting behind a row of very attractive young women. Jamie took particular notice of the seating arrangement.
"Mom, I never realized that churches were open in the middle of the night," Hines quoted Grabowski as saying, while smiles came to faces stained with tears. "I would have come more often. This is a great place to pick up girls."
Those who knew Grabowski well appreciated the chance to embrace his lighthearted ways one last time.
"He had an incredible ability to make people smile," said Jay Pawlyk, who was Grabowski's English teacher at St. John's.
"He had an infectious smile. He was just a good, young man."
James "Jamie" Grabowski was killed on Feb 2, 2004 near Northeastern University when he was struck by a sport utility vehicle during the chaos following the New England Patriots Super Bowl victory.
Grabowski, the son of veteran State Police Captain Dan Grabowski, had attended St. John's Preparatory School in Danvers along with his two brothers. The school community turned out in full force for the funeral, filling two buses with boys dressed in black and gray charcoal suits. They lined up shoulder to shoulder in front of the church, facing the procession as it left for the grave site.
Grabowski also attended the Coast Guard Academy. That school was also represented, along with a large contingent of Boston and State Police, who stood as honor guards at the doors of the church and provided a motorcycle escort for the funeral party.
But the funeral Mass was more than ceremony; it was about hope and a young man's spirit.
Jamie Grabowski, who was a state champion wrestler and a two-time academic All American, had a sense of humor.
His mother, Patricia, played on it when she wrote the eulogy delivered by Sergeant Steven Hines, a family friend from the State Police.
Patricia Grabowski recalled the midnight Mass she attended with her son this past Christmas, where they happened to find themselves sitting behind a row of very attractive young women. Jamie took particular notice of the seating arrangement.
"Mom, I never realized that churches were open in the middle of the night," Hines quoted Grabowski as saying, while smiles came to faces stained with tears. "I would have come more often. This is a great place to pick up girls."
Those who knew Grabowski well appreciated the chance to embrace his lighthearted ways one last time.
"He had an incredible ability to make people smile," said Jay Pawlyk, who was Grabowski's English teacher at St. John's.
"He had an infectious smile. He was just a good, young man."
Grabowski, the son of veteran State Police Captain Dan Grabowski, had attended St. John's Preparatory School in Danvers along with his two brothers. The school community turned out in full force for the funeral, filling two buses with boys dressed in black and gray charcoal suits. They lined up shoulder to shoulder in front of the church, facing the procession as it left for the grave site.
Grabowski also attended the Coast Guard Academy. That school was also represented, along with a large contingent of Boston and State Police, who stood as honor guards at the doors of the church and provided a motorcycle escort for the funeral party.
But the funeral Mass was more than ceremony; it was about hope and a young man's spirit.
Jamie Grabowski, who was a state champion wrestler and a two-time academic All American, had a sense of humor.
His mother, Patricia, played on it when she wrote the eulogy delivered by Sergeant Steven Hines, a family friend from the State Police.
Patricia Grabowski recalled the midnight Mass she attended with her son this past Christmas, where they happened to find themselves sitting behind a row of very attractive young women. Jamie took particular notice of the seating arrangement.
"Mom, I never realized that churches were open in the middle of the night," Hines quoted Grabowski as saying, while smiles came to faces stained with tears. "I would have come more often. This is a great place to pick up girls."
Those who knew Grabowski well appreciated the chance to embrace his lighthearted ways one last time.
"He had an incredible ability to make people smile," said Jay Pawlyk, who was Grabowski's English teacher at St. John's.
"He had an infectious smile. He was just a good, young man."
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