Houston community remembers Devin White

Under a waning sun and with the last bite of winter in the air, family, friends, staff, and community members came out to say goodbye to Devin White at a candlelight vigil held Saturday night.

White, 16, was found dead last week, and his death is labeled suspicious while the investigation is ongoing. But the vigil was not about how he died, but rather it was about someone who was loved and how he lived.

White’s father, Brian, spoke of a young boy born around the same time Mount Augustine volcano erupted, perhaps a metaphor for the lively as a little boy he could be, turning spaghetti into a helicopter by twirling and playing and climbing over furniture to get into some forbidden chocolate treats.

White also spoke about having to deal with the loss of his son

“Probably the most important thing about grief is that you can’t have it without love first. You have to love and then lose in order to grieve,” Brain White said. “I looked up on Google a cure for grief, and there was an actual post for a cure: grieve.”

White’s wife, Yana, offered many consoling hugs and words, and as she spoke, she thanked everyone for loving Devin for who he was with all his struggles and all his strengths.

“I believe he is still somewhere with us…just keep living. Never forget him and just keep living,” she said.

The space was opened for White’s friends and school staff to share their memories of him, and from those who did speak about White, one thing was clear-that he was kind. His friends recalled a funny, caring, kind young man, as one young student remembered how they rode the bus and when White saw she lived on a “bad” street, he would make sure to walk her to her house to make sure she was safe, before giving her a hug.

Many students recalled meeting White through Youth 360, an afterschool program that provides free leadership, creative expression, and teamwork activities for Houston Junior-Senior High School students. White was enthusiastic and very involved in the program, with many sharing that they would not have joined if not for White, and how he was responsible for most of the kids becoming part of the program.

Houston Jr/Sr High School Principal Benjamin Howard spoke of how kind and friendly White was to everyone, how he was “so kind, so ready for anything.”

As people shared memories, tears, and hugs, Brian White spoke of wanting to see the community come together to turn a spotlight on the dangers lurking.

“I fear, without changes, it’s only a matter of time before we suffer another loss. Please, hug your children, tell them you love them, be with them because there’s things out there, a cruelness thriving and if we don’t watch out it will just grow,” he said shortly before the vigil.

But Brian White also passed on words of advice to the students in attendance.

“No matter what you’re afraid of, disappointment or anger, share with your parents, let them in on whatever is going on,”Brian White said, a sentiment that was echoed by others who reminded the kids that they too had once been teenagers and they made mistakes, but that parents love them and are there to help.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact AST at (907) 352-5401. To remain anonymous, tips may be submitted through the AKTips smartphone app, by texting the keyword AKTIPS, followed by the tips to 847411, or online at https://dps.alaska.gov/ast/tips.