Newspaper Article and Photo`Outstanding in everything'
By Leah Shaffer
Joshua Damptey, a 10 -year-
old Chaska boy, died Friday
afternoon after collapsing while
participating in Oak Point Run
Club.
He was a student that every-
one looked up
to, said Rob
Gooding, his
fifth -grade
teacher at
Oak Point In-
termediate in
Eden Prairie.
"He seemed
to enjoy ev-
erything he
was involved Joshua
with," Good- Damptey
ing said.
Gooding described Joshua
as caring, very responsible, and
as a person with a high level of
integrity.
"He was a pleasure to teach."
Joshua lived in Chaska with
his mother, Sylvia, and broth-
er, Victor, who attends Eagle
Heights Spanish Immersion
School. Joshua previously at-
tended Eden Lake Elementary.
In a written statement, his
mother said:
"Our family would like to
express our sincerest gratitude
for the outpouring of love and
support. Your prayers are truly
appreciated at this time.
"We are devastated by the
abrupt loss of our phenomenal
son and brother, Joshua. We are
comforted by the knowledge
that he is now home in the lov-
ing arms of Jesus. We thank
God for the blessing of his life.
We are grateful to have experi-
enced the light and the joy that
Joshua brought to our lives in
his 10 glorious years of life.
"Joshua represents so many
wonderful things - An amazing
son, brother, leader, friend, Cub
Scout, pianist, philanthropist,
athlete, student, and most im-
portantly a child of God.
"Joshua loved life and his
light will shine on in heaven
and here on Earth for all eter-
nity," she wrote.
Gooding said, "Joshua was
very kind and caring to others,
the kind of kid who would go
out of his way for people."
He also noted that Joshua
was gifted and very intelli-
gent.
"He was outstanding in ev-
erything he put his hands on."
"We send our heartfelt con-
dolences to Joshua's family. We
are incredibly saddened by the
news of his death," Superin-
tendent Melissa Krull said, in a
statement. "Everyone has such
wonderful stories about this
amazing little boy. He touched
the lives of so many people in
our schools and in the commu-
nity. Our thoughts and prayers
are with Joshua's family and
friends."
The report as to the cause of
Joshua's death was not avail-
able at press time. Counsel-
ors were made available to all
students on Monday. Joshua's
funeral is planned at 4 p.m. Fri-
day at Westwood Community
Church, 3121 Westwood Drive,
Chanhassen, with visitation
beginning at 3 p.m. A Joshua
Damptey Memorial Fund has
been established through Wells
Fargo Bank.