Those who knew Quadaar White are still reeling at the loss of the vibrant, athletic teen. Instead of holding practice Tuesday night, the team held a vigil with hundreds showing up to remember him.
Kierrah Young and the rest of the cheerleaders for the Greater 69th Street Wildcats constructed a memorial around which hundreds of people gathered to remember Quadaar. The boy's family stood quietly grieving by the same Upper Darby field where he was seriously injured during practice one week ago.
In what teammates and staff describe as a terrible accident they explain somehow Quadaar, who played cornerback, was hit in the neck with another player's knee. They say he fell and never moved.
Quadaar held on for a week at the hospital before his passing. Friends and family say it appears he died from complications from the head and spinal cord injury, but details are not being released.
At the vigil, the focus was not on how Quadaar died but rather how he lived.
Players from other squads took a knee as friends and family looked to each for support. The high school sophomore is remembered as a great athlete who loved football and basketball and had dreams to one day play football in college.
Many memorial pages in Quadaar's honor are popping up on Facebook. We're told grief counselors will be on hand Wednesday at Upper Darby High school and at practice to help his friends and teammates through this difficult time.
A memorial fund has been set up for Quadaar White:
Sun Federal Credit Union
2800 West Passyunk Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19145-5206
