This memorial website was created to remember our dearest Matthew James Gramlich who was born in New York Rochester, NY on July 2, 1987 and passed away on December 18, 2005. You will live forever in our memories and hearts.

"VICTOR, NY : Sunday, December 18, 2005, at age 18. Predeased by his maternal grandfather Joseph William Marrocco, He is survived by his mother, Donna Gramlich (Marrocco) & (fiance' Ronald B. Ayers); father, James Gramlich; maternal grandmother, Amelia Marrocco; paternal grand parents, Patricia and Paul Gramlich; aunts & uncles, Linda and Mike Rosa, William and Deborah Marrocco, Thomas and Audrey Marrocco; Kate and John Crane; George (Cathy) Pawlyk; step brothers, Frank Ayers, Ron and (Amy) Ayers; step grandfather, Ronald L. Ayers; step aunts and uncles, Jenny and Kevin Quigley, Gary and Diane Ayers; many cousins.

Donations "In Memory of Matthew J. Gramlich" can be made to :

Victor Dollars for Scholars
c/o Victor High School
853 High Street
Victor, NY 14564 

Matt was alway's very close to his Grandma since his grandfather passed away when he was only 4 yrs. old. Since then he was Grandma's little helper doing things around the house for her. As Matt got older his grandma became more and more sick. After Matthew passed away it was like he was calling Grandma home to heaven so she wouldn't suffer no more. Sadly she passed away 6 1/2 weeks after Matt. They are now together in heaven. Below is his Grandma's web-site. Please light a candle or leave a tribute for her too.

http://amelia-marrocco.memory-of.com

Matthew Gramlich, loving son and great storyteller

Matthew Gramlich was an entertaining soul who was dedicated to his work, his family, and his friends.

VICTOR - Matthew Gramlich was fun. When things happened to him - things that would make other people grumpy - he just added the incident to his repertoire of stories. And when he told his stories, he made people laugh.

The 18-year-old Victor High School senior died Dec. 18 after the car he was riding in
crashed.

"He was the best storyteller, " said friend Kelly Hearn. "So funny. "

Jim Gramlich, Matthew's father, recalled the comical way his son recounted an episode at work. A big, heavy pot had fallen on Matthew's head during one of his shifts as a dishwater at Otto Tomotto's restaurant in Victor.

He got a big gash and was bleeding, recalled Matthew's boss, Tim Archetko, Otto Tomotto's owner and executive chef. But Matthew insisted on finishing his shift. "And he came back the next day. "

At home, Matthew's friends and family benefited from Matthew's sore head. He told a great story - "so dramatic, " recalled Hearn.

He was the kind of person you liked to talk to for hours, she added.
Matthew didn't need to experience anything unusual or interesting to recognize a good story, said friend Zach Towle. "It was what happened that day. "

It didn't take long after Matthew started working last year at Otto Tomotto's for Archetko to get wind of the fact that Matthew always worked hard and never skipped a shift because he didn't want to let Archetko down. Archetko and assistant chef Dan Cacciato came to regard Matthew as more of a younger brother than an employee, said Archetko. "We became a tight, little family. "

"He cared. "

At school, where Matthew excelled in the arts, particularly drawing and photography, he saw his mother every day because she worked as a school bus driver.

"He'd always come up and give me a hug and kiss, no matter what, " said Donna. "He was always loving. "

'A damper' on graduation


By KATRINA M. RANDALL
Messenger Post Staff
Posted: Jul 27, 01:00 PM EDT

Victor seniors rallied around a mother who wasn't allowed to accept her deceased son's diploma during commencement.

VICTOR — On Matthew Gramlich's shelf, in his bedroom above his bed, sit his awards, his diploma and his ashes. 

He would have graduated on June 25 but in December, the 18-year-old senior from Victor Central School District died in a car accident in Farmington. 

Matthew — known for having many friends, being a hard worker and having a good sense of humor — couldn't accept his own high school diploma, so his mother, Donna Gramlich, did it for him.

Overshadowing the event was not only Matthew's absence but the school's decree that his mother would not be allowed to walk across the stage to receive his honorary diploma with the other graduates.

Donna Gramlich was presented with Matthew's degree privately, prior to the graduation ceremony.

The school's decision didn't sit well with her, nor with many of the graduates.
"No one agreed with them," said Anthony Marrero, a friend of Matthew's who circulated a petition during graduation rehearsal hoping to get school officials to change their mind.

It has been recently brought to the attention of several graduating seniors that 'School Policy' is once again obstructing the pursuit of happiness within our community," the petition began.

According to that policy, students who didn't earn all their credits don't get to walk across the stage on graduation night.

"He's dead — he died, it's not like it is his fault," said Marrero, who added that Matthew had received the most-improved-junior award the year before and had good grades. "He was going to make it."

Marrero got about 180 students to sign the petition in a short period of time and then gave it to the administration. But school officials wouldn't change their minds.

"I felt like all they cared about was that he didn't get enough credits for the year," said Donna Gramlich, a longtime bus driver for the district.

Superintendent Tim McElheran said the difficult decision was not made lightly.
"Anytime something like this happens, it's a tragedy," he said of the accident.

But "if they don't earn enough credits, they don't participate in the graduation ceremony," he continued. "Graduations are a celebration — it's just difficult."

It wasn't just that Donna Gramlich wanted to accept the diploma during graduation, she said, it was for the students who had supported her as well.

"Even though the kids wanted me to be up there, they still wouldn't let me," she said of the administrators. "I was pretty upset about it. It sort of put a damper on it."

Donna Gramlich has created a Web site in memory of Matthew at 
http://matthew-gramlich.memory-of.com

I Still Miss You

It's been some time, since you've been gone 
I thought by now, I would be strong 
I think of you, and shed my tears 
I wonder who, will still my fears. 

Your memories remain, inside my heart 
My soul it seems, to be torn apart 
You told me secrets, I hold so dear 
I only wish, you would be near. 

I still miss and love you, can't you see 
I wish to hold, and talk with thee 
So many things, I could not say 
And now you've gone, so far away. 

You taught me to, in God believe 
You said he would always, take care of me
So take my hand, and guide me there 
And save a place, one day to share.

I love you Matt.

Love Always & Forever,

   Mom  

Thank You so much for the beautiful Graphics Jayne 
daughter of
http://ritadarcy.memory-of.com

Cross was made by Grandpa Gramlich and woodburning was done by Donna Gramlich.

Full view of the crash site