FINAL SALUTE TO KYLE
Kyle Losse’s father Brian and stepmom Niki listen to speeches as hundreds attend a memorial Sunday in Tsawwassen for the skilled baseball player who died last week.
The baseball diamond was sacred ground to 14-year-old Kyle Losse, and on Sunday his family, friends, coaches, teachers and neighbours gathered on that ground to celebrate his life, mourn his loss and remember him.
At Winskill Park where Kyle had so often played, under heavy cloud and rain that fell like tears, there was laughter and gratitude for the child whose life, so filled with promise, gave so much to so many.
The South Delta Secondary student died Tuesday after a possible head injury, but the details of his tragic death were set aside for a celebration of the life he lived as a son, a grandson, brother and budding baseball “superstar” who was about to start his first season with the Bantam AAA Delta Tigers.
Kyle was remembered as a gangly kid with a huge smile and a head of crazy, curly blond hair. To his dad, Brian Losse, Kyle was the baby he had once promised to keep safe, happy and healthy.
“I waited for every milestone to happen: crawl, walk, talk and call me Daddy,” said Losse, his voice breaking. But with Kyle, the milestones kept coming. “I watched you become a superstar.”
Dad became a baseball coach. Kyle was striking kids out at the tadpole level. Kyle and his dad became their own team, and Kyle even coached his dad when he first volunteered to coach.
“On the way to practice, Kyle goes, ‘Dad, what are we going to do today at practice?’ I replied, ‘I have no idea.’ Kyle said, ‘Let’s do a warm-up, do some hitting, then hit some ground balls to us.’ ”
Kyle was known as “the pitcher with the throw,” although his hat wouldn’t stay on his head due to his curls. A natural athlete, Kyle also played football.
“This year he pitched 81 innings with our team, 167 strikeouts, 18 home runs, four grand slams, two tournament wins, provincial championship wins, two homerunderby wins, he played for a team in the western finals, which they won, he travelled to Las Vegas, Arizona, Kenwood, Wash.
Kyle had a promising baseball future.
“He was my hero, my superstar, my KY man. He was a fantastic athlete, but he was also a handsome man with a beautiful smile, a big, white Afro and a caring boy: You put smiles on the faces of people who never even knew you ... Today Kyle is watching us. He wants all of you athletes to follow your dreams. Play hard, train hard and be kind to one another.”
Losse said he has vowed to get the Winskill baseball field named after him: “Field 14, Kyle Losse.”
Niki Losse, Kyle’s stepmother, spoke next, thanking the community and even those who didn’t know Kyle for all the support. “Your laugh was contagious, your curiosity was never-ending and your love made our house a home.”
On the field, Kyle was, she said, “Just happy.”
Kyle’s birth mother, Jamie Palidwar, let a friend speak on her behalf and read a poem to Kyle that expressed the difficulty of knowing “why some things happen as they do, when so much joy and happiness was centred around you.”
She remembered him as “the most polite, happy, loving, energetic, talented, focused, clever, ambitious, super-hilarious young man anyone would ever meet.”
That talent and focus had let Kyle be selected for the Arizona Diamondbacks Canada Scout Team. Most recently, Milwaukee Brewers scout Marty Lehn had expressed interest in Kyle to the family after meeting the teen at a youth baseball camp, even though he wouldn’t be eligible to be drafted until he was 18.
Kyle’s teammates and other teams attended in their uniforms, many wiping tears away as family spoke.
Jesse Mitran, 13, a teammate and close friend of Kyle’s, said he has been wearing his baseball jersey since the moment he heard his pal was in hospital.
“It’s just been really difficult. I’ve been wearing this jersey every day. Until today. This is going to be the last day I put on this jersey. It’s been really hard. Knowing he had such a future, and being his friend, along with everyone in the school. It’s hit us very hard.”
To other kids who might be considering vaping, Mitran said, “Don’t do it. If this had to happen, I hope it will save other kids.”
Kyle’s great-grandmother Alice Anderson said: “Kyle was the love of our life. He was humble. He was a beautiful person.”
Community support has been so important for the family, said Anderson, but along with their tragic loss, the family is struggling with the online attacks on Kyle’s family, suggesting they were responsible for his use of the nicotine vaping pen — something that was allegedly acquired for him by the father of an acquaintance.
“It’s a tragedy,” said Anderson. “And what makes it worse is all the negativity, the comments people are posting. Look at the family gathered here. He was looked after. He was loved.”
Kyle was using an e-cigarette in the bathroom of his family home Sunday when he fell and may have struck his head. He died Tuesday after being placed on lifesupport. It’s unclear whether the e-cigarette had anything to do with Kyle’s death, which is still under investigation by the B.C. Coroner’s service.