Ohio
Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers stand in for fallen friend at son’s high school graduation in Stark County
Daniel Laubacher handed away in 2014, however his fellow officers have been there for his household ever since.
JACKSON, Ohio — On this evening, a sea of purple and gold spreads throughout Robert Fife Stadium in Stark County. The Jackson Excessive Faculty Class of 2022 is 491 college students sturdy, and able to graduate as family members look on.
However one chair on the sidelines sits empty, a reminder of who must be right here on today.
“Everybody knew him as ‘Skinny,’” Lt. Todd Roberts of the Ohio State Freeway Patrol mentioned of his former colleague, Daniel Laubacher. “That was his title that everyone referred to as him. He was simply the lifetime of the occasion all over the place he went.”
Daniel “Skinny” Laubacher was a 14-year veteran of the OSHP in Wooster. Extra importantly, he was a husband to Jennifer and a father to a few lovely kids—Logan, Landrey and Lexin.
An even bigger than life character who had each present however size of years.
“He left an enormous crater, an enormous crater for certain clearly for me and the youngsters,” Jennifer instructed us after we spoke to her final October. “Our lives have been shattered.”
Cardiac arrhythmia took Daniel’s life unexpectedly in 2014. He was simply 39 years outdated. Understandably, the previous 8 years haven’t been simple for anybody, together with Logan.
“My life would change ceaselessly,” Logan mentioned. “I might be completely different than everyone else, as a result of I’ve a unique outlook on life household mates and college.”
To ease the void, Jennifer has tried incorporating Daniel’s reminiscence into lots of the youngsters’ milestones, together with Logan’s senior images taken by photographer Ashley Escola final fall. Daniel’s badge, his patrol photograph, and the flag from his funeral have been all utilized in methods to honor him.
And on commencement evening, Daniel’s presence is felt as soon as once more. Six have been chairs positioned to the precise of the commencement stage, 5 occupied by fellow troopers who all knew “Skinny” and requested Jennifer if it will be okay in the event that they have been there on commencement evening for Logan, and for his or her good friend.
“To have them attain out to me and ask if they could be a a part of today—and a strategy to characterize his dad as a result of he cannot be right here—it meant the world,” Jennifer mentioned from the ceremony.
Every man stood as Logan approached to attend his flip to go on stage. They shook his hand and hugged him, understanding his dad could be proud.
The “Blue Household” was there not simply to honor “Skinny,” however to witness his boy change into a person.
“We would like to have the ability to help him, to indicate that individuals nonetheless care about him,” Roberts mentioned of Logan. “If his dad was right here, he could be doing the very same factor.”
His highschool days now formally behind him, Logan is prepared for the following chapter: School first, then profession, with household—blood and blue—all the time able to help him.
“It is all the time good to know that they are going to present up for me and my household,” Logan added.
Within the fall, Logan might be attending Kent State College, with plans to comply with in his father’s footsteps and pursue a profession in regulation enforcement.
