FORT WORTH -- Rick Sek, a Paschal High School sophomore who drowned Friday, was described at a vigil of about 200 relatives, friends and classmates late Saturday as a person known to be a gentle, compassionate and shy, yet always counted on to be first to lend a helping hand.
The Fort Worth 15-year-old was one of two area teens who died Friday in separate water tragedies in North Texas.Conner Gage, a freshman at Fort Worth Christian School, drowned while at Possum Kingdom Lake. Gage, of North Richland Hills, was with a friend's family when the accident happened."We are deeply saddened to share this news with you," the parochial school's president, Kelly Moore, said in an e-mailed statement sent Saturday to students and staff.Sek, who played French horn in the Paschal band, was pronounced dead after being pulled unconscious from an end-of-summer band party at the Lockheed Martin Recreation Area in southwest Fort Worth."The first time we knew something was wrong, he was already underwater," band director Bryan Wright said. Wright said he had no details on what caused the drowning other than being told that Rick was not a strong swimmer."I am their leader ... and this is just horrible."Wright said the first football game against Arlington Heights High School next week at Farrington Field will be hard on band members."He'll be there in our hearts," he said. "It'll be very tough going out on that field without him. We'll find some way to pay tribute to him during halftime."Band Student President Oakleigh Beard, who said she met Sek one year and 24 days ago, said he was the one who was always there for everyone else."Rick did all he could to help everyone," she said. "He helped around the band hall. If someone was injured, Rick was there to help. If someone was struggling, he would walk up and give them a hug."Ashley Ainsworth, French horn section leader, said Sek didn't need to be asked to help out."He will always be missed," Ainsworth said. "From this day forward, we will play for Rick Sek."Susan McFarland, 817-390-7684Twitter: @susanmcfarland1Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
