Sunday, May 30, 1999
Teen killed, diploma in sight
BY SHEILA McLAUGHLIN and PHILLIP PINA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Dominic Million
|
The graduation party at Kathy Jontig's house in Symmes Township Saturday was meant to celebrate the future — and the end of a tough senior year.
Instead, among all the usual festive trimmings, members of the Sycamore High School varsity football team and others came together in grief and bewilderment.
They consoled one another and, in a scrapbook, tried to capture their memories of the team's running back, Dominic Million.
Mr. Million, 18, of Blue Ash, was killed Friday evening after the 1992 Honda Accord he was riding in swerved off northbound Montgomery Road in rush hour traffic and hit a utility pole at Cornell Road in Symmes Township.
Mr. Million's friend and Aviator teammate, John San Marco, was driving.
The news has taken its toll on Sycamore staff members and students, who had just recovered from a tornado that damaged many of their homes, as well as their schools, Athletic Director Jim Stoll said.
While Mr. Million's teammates collected photographs and signed their names to a memory book they will present to Mr. Million's mother, Mr. San Marco recuperated from minor injuries at home in Montgomery.
The 18-year-old blamed himself for the accident and refused to see visitors, said Teresa Paul of Blue Ash, who spoke with the San Marco family.
As the young men's friends gathered at the Jontig home, the seniors spent hours recalling their years together, and how they cherished Mr. Million. They talked about his laugh that sounded more like a hiccup. The
sense of humor that could always bring a smile. A determination to succeed.
“There is no way to describe him. He was Dominic. He was unique,” said Adam Futscher, a 17-year-old senior and inside linebacker on the Aviators' 8-2 football team.
The players spent a lot of summers together working on their game and developing friendships. Before Mr. Million moved to the district back when they were all seventh-graders, the team struggled and lost more than half its games.
Mr. Million provided the spark, said Zac Paul, 18, a teammate and senior. When he and his teammates heard about the crash Friday night, they found they could rely on each other not only on the football field, but also when dealing with life's pains.
“It's just like we're a family,” said John Nelson, an 18-year-old senior tailback.
The school's tight-knit athletics community already has established a memorial fund for Mr. Million's mother.
Saturday, Sycamore coaches, parents and students also expressed concern for Mr. San Marco. Neither youth's family could be reached for comment.
“The community is all concerned about John. We aren't going to forget him. We are going to be there, the next day and the next day,” said Ms. Paul, Zac's mother.
Varsity Coach Tom Adams said the “outgoing and fun-loving” Mr. Million and Mr. San Marco were the best of friends and were always together. Mr. Million often stayed with the San Marcos, and had spent the night there the day before his death.
Despite his own emotional turmoil over the death of his brother four years ago, Mr. San Marco “took Dominic under his wing,” Mr. Adams said.
“Dominic has had some adversity in his life. He struggled a little bit academically. And John kind of took it upon himself to make sure Dominic was going to make it through school and make it to graduation,” he said.
“If Dominic needed help in any way in life, academically, socially, John took it upon himself to help.”
Both young men were headed for graduation ceremonies next Sunday at the University of Cincinnati's Shoemaker Center.
Mr. Million, a first-team Greater Miami Conference running back, was waffling between attending Tiffin University or joining the Marines, Mr. Adams said. Mr. San Marco, an All-State offensive lineman, plans to play football at Fordham University in the fall.
“This is a very delicate emotional situation with John,” said Mr. Adams. “It's like losing a part of his family. They were like brothers.”
“The kids are really hurting,” Assistant Principal Dennis Klasmeier said from his home Saturday morning.
Counselors will be on hand to talk to students when they return to school Tuesday, which would have been Mr. Million's last day in class.
Details of the crash were not available Saturday, but sheriff's deputies said alcohol was not a factor.
Contributions to the Dominic Million Memorial Fund may be sent to Sycamore Athletic Boosters, Attn. Larry Mates, 8722 Windfield Lane, Cincinnati, OH 45249. For information, call 583-0198.
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