| | Published September 12th, 2012
| Candlelight Vigil for Brett Olson Draws Huge Crowd
| |  | | Photo Ohlen Alexander |
In an outpouring of support and sympathy, hundreds of mourners came to pay respects to Brett Olson, who was discovered by fishermen on Sunday approximately a week after he disappeared from the annual Chico Labor Day inner tube float on the Sacramento River. A soft glow from the sea of candles given out gave the gathering a solemn, respectful feel. It didn’t take long once the event started for collective tears to begin. Michael Olson, Brett’s father, gave a moving tribute that celebrated his son’s warmth and passionate energy, recalling that he stayed up late, got up early and never napped, making the most of his short life. He joked that Brett majored in Theater Arts from preschool onward, always creating and acting out sword fights in full costume in the backyard. “We miss you terribly,” he concluded.
The family was appreciative of the search effort on Brett’s behalf, from Brett’s friends that worked tirelessly and the amazing power of social media to get the word out; the Facebook page had over 92,000 followers.
The practice field behind Acalanes High School was filled with scores of students, neighbors, and friends of the family looking for some closure to the tragic loss. Organizers provided posters for mourners to reflect and say good-bye. Twenty-year-old Olson had attended Acalanes and was a student at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Speakers remembered his charming smile, delightful sense of humor and creative streak. A video tribute filled with photos from his life closed the evening, with everything from Christmas to family outings and vacations. C. Tyson
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA