PHOTO OF THE WEEK

-- Sean Hiller

Covering memorials are always difficult. Matt Colby’s memorial service

at Estancia High School was a really emotional one -- my second memorial

of the week. The two schools rivals, Costa Mesa and Estancia both shared

the privilege of knowing Colby. This bond brought all tensions to a halt,

allowing everyone to gather together and not only mourn his death, but

also pay tribute to the star athlete and friend who died Sept. 29 after

collapsing at a Friday night football game. Students told funny stories

about their friend, one even sang a song.

Overwhelmed with emotion and strapped for time to make deadline, I

overlooked this picture of Kelli Colby, Matt’s mom, embracing one of

Matt’s close friends after the service. Instead, I chose another picture

to tell the story in the paper. Looking back on the week, I realized that

this picture of his mother in the arms of his friend captured the story

as well as the emotions involved.