Cross Classmates Remember ​“Evy”

Cherry blossoms and rays of sunshine came to life and mind as Wilbur Cross students gathered to honor their late classmate, 15-year-old Evyana Devine Vidro.

Close friends and peers at the East Rock comprehensive high school at 181 Mitchell Dr. met up on Friday to decorate the school’s courtyard with reminders of Vidro, a Cross sophomore who passed away on Feb. 8 due to a medical condition. 

Cross’s Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) and science educator Michael Sang have been working with Principal Matt Brown and Vidro’s family to purchase and dedicate memorial benches, a white dogwood tree, and flowers in honor of Vidro’s memory. 

Her close friends reminisced on the good times they had with Vidro since first meeting her at Cross their freshmen year. Memories of her love for the Mexican-American artist Selena, reading, and the color pink were left as reminders on painted rocks by current juniors Liliana Jimenez, Haylie MacHoll, and Ren Melgar. 

While the trio of Vidro’s close friends painted rocks with their finger prints and cherry blossoms, they talked about Vidro’s sense of humor that kept them smiling throughout the school day. 

She was a ​“ray of sunshine,” Jimenez said, as she painted a rock shades of yellow.

Board of Education student representative John Carlos Serana Musser arranged the meetup of Cross students Friday alongside Vidro’s friends. He emphasized the importance of remembering the life of a fellow Cross ​“Governor” and of dispelling the stereotype that New Haven students lack compassion. 

“We are creative. We care for members of our community. Cross is not just made up of students who vandalize elevators and bathrooms,” he said. 

In Sang’s third-floor classroom, 18 students gathered to paint rocks to decorate the courtyard’s newly planted tree. East Rock/Fair Haven Alder Caroline Smith also joined Friday’s after-school gathering. 

“She was so funny,” Jimenez told Smith as they each painted rocks. Jimenez, MacHoll, and Melgar went on to tell Smith about the first time they met Vidro, who they often referred to as ​“Evy.”

Much like they often saw their friend doing, the trio attempted to bring out their inner artists Friday as they each painted a half-dozen rocks in Evy’s memory. 

Jimenez said she showed up to Friday’s rock-painting memorial to spread awareness about her friend, who some of her classmates did not know as well. ​“She left a difference. She made all of our lives so much better. I want people to know that,” she said. 

While Jimenez remembered a time she had fallen down a Cross stairwell with Evy and they laughed through the embarrassment, MacHoll and Melgar remembered Evy’s daily preparedness. They described Evy having ​“Walmart in her bag” and at all times offering them menstrual products, perfume, or deodorant.

Jimenez said Evy’s love for reading inspired her and continues to. The two would read together and talk about the books afterwards. ​“Now when I read books, I pretend to talk to Evy about the book after because that’s just what I’m used to,” Jimenez said. 

Evy, the trio of friends added, had big dreams to one day pursue a career in the medical field. She was extremely studious since her freshmen year, they added. 

“She was not like everybody else. Her smile and the way she would jump around when she was excited was just out of the ordinary,” Jimenez recalled. 

After painting rocks and leaving them to dry with a clear protective coat, some of the group joined in the school’s courtyard to plant pink mums around the school’s new memorial benches and tree. 

In addition to a bench and plaque specifically dedicated to Evy, Cross also installed a bench with a plaque reading ​“In loving memory of all forever Governors.”