With dad working at a little Seattle-area startup bookstore / delivery company named Amazon, the birth announcement photo practically wrote itself.
Day One
Hot Wheels
I never had Giacomo as a “regular” student, but saw him in many different settings after retiring and plying my trade as a sub. Giacomo was always kind to everyone and had a wonderful sense of fun. One day I saw Giacomo struggling down the hall on a new set of crutches. I had broken my leg the year before and knew what a pain this could be.
“Don’t worry, Giacomo. This too shall pass.”
“There”s got to be a better way!” he groaned.
Later that day I saw Giacomo cruising down the hallway with a big grin on his face. Ms. Dunn and Ms. Elaine had given him his own set of wheels, a long forgotten little wheelchair in the office closet.
– Marianne Scurlock
Looking back a decade
A glance back ten years, when we were doing what we should be doing today – Giacomo’s fourteenth birthday. Let’s all hold him in our hearts.
– Fruncle Matt
My Memories with Giacomo
I still don’t think I have all the words I need to express how much I miss and cared about Giacomo. I’ve been trying to put my feelings into music as well, but even that is tough. I don’t exactly know how I feel at the moment because I’ve never experienced this before.
The only thing I’d wish for right now is to have him here so he could see how many people love and care about him. I wish he could be with his family and friends again. I wish we all could’ve said goodbye. I wish we could say hello again. I wish none of us had to go through this pain. I wish he could’ve continued his life because that’s what he deserved. I believe he would’ve had an amazing future ahead of him.
He had such a happy and positive spirit. He was intelligent, kind, thoughtful, supportive, caring, inclusive, talented, trustworthy, generous, and so much more. Giacomo was always there for me and I appreciated that about him. He knew how to make everyone smile and laugh better than anybody else could. I feel so honored that I was lucky enough to have been his friend. I’m thankful that I have so many memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
One of my favorite memories with him is when we went to the Magnolia pool. Afterwards, I got to drive in the car with his adorable dog. Augie sat on my lap while his head faced Giacomo. It made both of us laugh a lot! Another great memory is when the school musical ended. I think we were one of the only kids left at the party when the adults started karaoke. It was so fun because his mom sang a song with a few of the other adults. He looked very embarrassed 😉 .
Even simple memories like these are so nice to remember. I thought it was so funny when he used to randomly start rapping songs I didn’t know, tell me to feel how soft his hair was after he got haircuts (it was VERY soft), and jokingly bump into me in the halls during passing periods. One time before the school musical auditions, Giacomo and Ms. Torcaso came to our house. He said for his audition, he was going to sing a song from Moana. Of course, we all pleaded him to sing it for us. He did. It was lovely. I recall he even had to sing, “I wish I could be the perfect daughter.” which made us all laugh. I bet he was the perfect son. The last memory I’d like to share is when I went to his house and we watched shows, chased Augie around the dining room, and jumped on his trampoline. He showed me many of his impressive tricks.
I have many more big and small memories with him, but those are the ones that remind me of some of his best qualities.
I think the worst thing for me right now is that I’ll never get to see him again. But whenever I think that, I just remind myself that even though it was a short life, I think it was a really great one.
I love looking back at the pictures and short videos I have of him. I wish I had many more. But even if he’s not next to me, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing him in my dreams. 🙂
– Zoe Papadakis
Always a Sea Dragon!
Dear Giacomo,
I am grateful to your Mom for coming to South Shore in 2011 and entrusting us with her most prized gift, you.
I have this picture of you and while I know you grew up to be a beautiful young man, I will always remember you as this little guy. Your spirit was just good and you left an impression on everyone you met. You were simply so easy to love. We thank God for our time with you, way too short, but such a gift it was. We will never forget you and you will always be in our heart.
– Love Ms. Scarlett, Danielle and Peter
Easter Egg Hunts
I fondly remember numerous Easter celebrations at our place with adults hiding eggs, later sending the kids out to retrieve them (and adults trying to remember where they hid them when getting close to the egg count). Rogan and Giacomo would get head starts as they were the youngest.
Candy eggs could be kept, but all money eggs had to be emptied into the general fund and then equally distributed among them… their introduction to socialism.
– June Deeds
Hugs and love
Jeff and Mary my heart goes out to you. Mary and I met in grad school many, many years ago. I only had the chance to meet Giacomo once. My daughter Meg and Giacomo were 2 years old and we ran into all of you at the Bellevue Square kids play area. I immediately knew that Giacomo would be a kind, caring person just looking at his sweet eyes and knowing who was raising him!
I have no words to make you feel better or make this easier, I am sorry for both of you. I’m sending you hugs and love. xoxox
–Jill Corsi
G-Man in his element
My most excellent host, Giacomo!
During the spring of 2017 fellow teacher Mary invited my son and I to spend a weekend in Pacific City, Oregon to enjoy the solar eclipse path of totality with their family and friends. They were all renting a beach house overlooking the tide pools, sand, and waves.
I was reluctant and shy. I considered saying thanks but no thank you. Fortunately it’s not easy to bag out on sincere, gracious, inclusive people like Jeff, Mary, and of course Giacomo.
On the way out of town we zipped over to West Seattle and picked up Laura, another teacher pal of Mary’s from Southshore. She had known Giacomo since he was just a mere pup. I had never met Laura, but there was something about the Meyers-Torcaso vibe that made it seem right as rain, so we headed south together for the blotting out of the sun fun.
Teachers and students alike always have an odd time imagining each others lives outside of school and the classroom. I was actually a bit apprehensive about spending time with a student in an unfamiliar setting. Wilbur was scared of being the new kid and not knowing anyone. We finally pulled up to the beach house, smelled the salt, and knocked on the door.
Our fears were instantly washed away like a sandcastle. Instead of a large cold wave, there stood Giacomo, with that sweet sincere smile of his, followed his MOST ADORABLE DOBERMAN PUPPY, August. Taped ears and all. That weekend I got to interact with Giacomo and see him in his comfort zone of love and laughs. Amongst his beloved family and life long friends, I witnessed a giving, kind, silly kid who was so attentive and caring of us and his dear dog.
At one point someone got the idea to climb this hulking sand dune that basically forms the cape there at Pacific City. The sun was high overhead, the wind was literally whipping sand in our faces, and the grade was steep. It was tough going for all of us. I was a bit worried we’d make it.
G-Man, as I took to calling him was bringing up the rear of the hike with his mom. I never actually got confirmation if Giaciomo was ok with that nickname because at school that fall when I’d say good morning G-Man, he would just give me that confident but quiet smile like it’s okay Mr. Mead, I know you’re kind of goofy. I liked those before school hall passings. A teacher’s kid gets used to it.
Anyways, I was hoping he’d trudge up that sand mountain. And he did! I learned that Giacomo did not give up easily. Giacomo accepted and welcomed anyone he could share a smile with or explore a beach at low tide with. Giacomo managed to care for a new puppy, hang with his old buddies & family members, while playing host to a new kid and his odd science teacher dad.
I came to realize that weekend that Giacimo was indeed a special person. He had this humble happy go lucky spirit, and willingness to help others. To pitch in. The love that was so clearly heaped on to him, he was ready and able to give back. A sure recipe for friends, happiness, and respect. He sure gained mine.
I’ll never forget his grace and optimism. It’s no wonder he is so loved by the Blaine community and beyond. I cherish watching two boys who had just met, lost in curiosity and adventure for an hour at low tide. I said out loud to Mary and Jeff on the beach deck looking out at them, cant we just freeze them like that? I think Mary said, “exactly.”
– Tim & Wilbur Mead
Christmas in Seattle
I was lucky enough to spend my Christmas and New Years with the Seattle Torcaso-Meyers crowd. Over those couples of weeks I was able to spend a lot of quality time with Giacomo. From overloaded choc-chip pancakes, eating burgers while watching a Seahawks game, and awesome sushi, to some dubious clarinet and flute practices, a trip to the aquarium, and building a gingerbread house together. He was kind, funny and thoughtful – a truly special character. I thoroughly enjoyed the precious little time I had with him. G was loved, and will be sorely missed.
– Bradley Meyers
Fellow Fans
We are Seahawks fans since we moved to the PNW in 1993. We loved the games and as a bonus we had seats in front of this wonderful family . I loved seeing you love your son and how he loved you back so sweetly. Sometimes we even got to meet one of his friends who would also be rooting with us and the team.
I always thought this was special and a gift to be associated with this family. I guess you don’t ever know really when someone leaves us but what I do know for sure is that this family loved hard and strong. He knew his parents loved him . I am glad I captured this moment of Giacomo’s talk with his Dad and his friend loving every moment of being there. Love never forgets, love is precious and this family proves that it is unconditional and kind . Rest in Power my friend.
–Stephanie