Torri Wightman

Victoria Ellen Wightman

(written by a brave Charter School student two days after Torri's death)

Life is a journey that we all undertake; a journey that confuses many. Each day we are presented with new ideas, paths of life, and possibilities. Many of us pass these opportunities up, while others embrace them. Although many take different approaches to life, we all live under the impression that these opportunities will arise again.

On the morning of May 16th, Victoria “Torri” Wightman, a well known and beloved student here at the Charter School died in a tragic automobile accident on Route 106 in Plympton. Torri, and 3 friends heading toward Halifax that morning tragically hit a puddle, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle, and collide head on with an approaching mini-van. Sadly, Torri was pronounced dead on the scene by Plympton authorities while the driver and two other passengers were transported to Boston Medical Center in critical condition.

Most of us watch the news, read the paper, or listen to the radio everyday. We hear of shootings, accidents, and fires; we see family members on the news, lost and broken; we look, nod our heads, and think “wow”, but our days continue. The afternoon of May 16th was just like every other afternoon; I arrived home, let out the dog, and sat down at the computer; nothing out of the ordinary. At 3:30 my cell phone rang, I answered the phone just like any other phone call, but this sadly wasn’t just “any other phone call”. “Dan” she said, “someone was involved in a horrible accident…”. I paused for a moment, and replied. “Who…?”, “Torri Wightman…”  For the rest of my life I will never forget the feeling that came upon me. Unlike what we hear on the news, read about in the paper, or catch on the radio, this hit home; close to home. This was not just a face on television or in the paper, this was someone that was part of my life, someone that I have known and loved since elementary school in Hingham.

Torri had been a student of the Charter School since last September when she transferred in as a freshman from Hingham Middle School. If you look back at photos from early last year, you probably won’t recognize Torri with her long light brown hair. Torri quickly became a part of the Charter School, a part that will never be lost. Torri was a loving girl, with an amazing heart and a sense of humor that will never be forgotten. Torri always seemed to be “there”, where ever you turned, with her camera and her cell phone saying something that made us all laugh. Torri didn’t waste a breath of her life. She cherished and captured every moment with a picture, a song, or drawing. I always knew that Torri had touched many people’s lives; that she has made an impact on so many, however, yesterday really showed how loved Torri was. Wednesday, May 17th, 2006 was a silent day at the South Shore Charter School. In the two years that I have attended this school, I have never seen a day so still-life, so full of tears and loss. Time stood still yesterday as we remembered Torri; our laughs, our smiles, and our cries. Some sat and talked, while most lost in memories and thoughts of “Torr”, and how our lives would now be changed forever.

Yesterday morning, in a visit to the school Torri’s mother (Lucy), heart-broken and teary looked me in the eye and said something that I will never forget; “she loved you guys”, well “Luce”, we loved her too. We will always love her; Torri will always be in our hearts and in our thoughts forever.

Dan Nardo, SSCPS Level VI