The most boisterous cheer this year at McCluer North High School’s graduation ceremony erupted when the 12th-grade principal called the name of a boy who wasn’t even there: Daleleon Smith, who passed in March of this year due to complications from muscular dystrophy.
The 19-year-old, wheelchair-bound student had earned enough credits to graduate high school and was very proud of that triumph – especially since he had a life expectancy of 13 years.
His family and school community also were proud and rooted for him. When he passed away, students spearheaded a fundraiser, collecting more than $2,000 from students, staff and faculty for Daleleon’s funeral expenses. Winners in a school talent show handed their winnings over to the Smith family, adding another $300 to the pot.
“It was just the right thing to do,” said Alexander Washburn, who graduated in Daleleon’s class. Graduation was held inside UMSL’s Mark Twain Building recently
A moment of silence was held for Daleleon and late teacher Karl Kopitske, who died during the Fall 2008 semester. When Daleleon’s name was called, the crowd in the auditorium cheered loud and proud. Daleleon’s brother DeMontez accepted his brother’s posthumous diploma.
If Daleleon had been there, we would have been cracking jokes, Washburn said, noting that a tear fell down his face when he heard his former classmate’s name called.
“He worked so hard and always made me laugh,” said Washburn, who had known Daleleon since ninth grade.
Washburn described Daleleon as someone who always joked and stayed in good spirits, despite his condition. Washburn said those character strengths of Daleleon taught him “not to give up, no matter what the obstacle.”
After high school, Daleleon wanted to own his own business, according to his mother, Laronich Smith. She too is in a wheelchair due to crippling and deforming rheumatoid arthritis.
She and her son DeMontez, age 20, sat in a front row at the graduation.
“That was our goal, and he was proud,” she said of Daleleon’s graduating. “And it was an honor and a privilege to be there to accept it for him.”
Laronich said she knew her son was always a “temporary gift,” a fallen angel who came to share his “humble nature” – and his time had come.
“I wasn’t angry, because I knew it was time to let go,” she said.
She said she told Daleleon it was a privilege to have him as her son.
“Some people would rather be sad and miserable, but I didn’t lose him – I just lost his shell,” Laronich said.
“So I carry him with me every day, and I move on.”
She said her approach to grief is to mourn for one day. She also taught her children to never be miserable for any reason.
Along with Daleleon and DeMontez, she has a 23-year-old son named Christopher Smith who is in the U.S. Army and helped to pay for the funeral.
A large group of students, staff and faculty attended Daleleon’s funeral.
“It isn’t easy when you lose one of your students,” said Shane Hopper, building principal of McCluer North High School.
Hopper described Daleleon as “shy and to himself if you didn’t know him,” but otherwise “like any other teen, joking, playing videogames and hanging with friends.”
“It’s been tough on all of us,” Hopper said.
In Daleleon’s last days, his mother said she was moved to cherish the sound of his wheelchair squeaking around the house and his voice when he came in from school, calling out, “Hello, Mom – what’s for dinner?”
