Memorial held to honor Andrew Farias
Toyota Rattler Stadium was filled from midfield to end zone with people mourning the devastating loss of recent graduate Andrew Farias on Tuesday. The memorial held by the San Marcos High School Football Team Chaplain Pastor Mark Carrillo, in collaboration with the Rattler Football Booster Club, was a chance to honor the young man and the apparent great impact he had on his teammates and peers. Rattler football coach John Walsh announced that Farias’ jersey would be retired, so he would be the last player to wear the number 13; His jersey was framed and gifted to his mother Shannon Vasquez.
“Since this weekend, I’ve been contacted by many teachers that had him in class, and the common theme is his personality and his smile just changed the room,” Walsh said. “He was a positive student athlete. He was charismatic. And those personalities just made the room, made the field, made the bus rides; It [all] just changed in a positive manner.”
Farias’ impact on the team will not soon be forgotten.
“Last night at the vigil, it was very apparent that he impacted not only his classmates in the senior class but the younger ones as well,” Walsh said. “A friend of mine has a sophomore on a team, and he was emotionally distraught … I’m not sure Andrew and him were friends, but Andrew was someone he looked up to. Anytime you have a loss like this, it’s devastating; We’re going to dedicate the season to him and just talk and work through it.”
During the memorial, Carillo gave his deepest condolences to Farias’ family and friends on behalf of himself and his wife.
“If we look around, we see that Andrew had an impact on a lot of people’s lives. He was loved. He was cherished. And I think the community of San Marcos is here to support the family. So if we look around,” Carillo said, while pointing to the large crowd on the field. “Family, know that you are not alone in this.”
Farias’ Aunt Crystal Trevino made a Go-FundMe on behalf of his mother.
“He was a light in our lives — always smiling, full of love, compassion, and kindness,” Trevino stated on the GoFund-Me page. “His presence brought warmth to everyone around him, and his absence leaves a hole in our hearts that can never be filled.”
The GoFundMe page is meant “to help cover funeral and memorial expenses during this incredibly difficult time.” One can make a donation at gofundme.com/f/sup port-andrew-farias-me morial-fund.
