Santana shooting victim remembered as friend

LAKESIDE, California (CNN) -- One of two students killed last week in the shooting at Santana High School was remembered Sunday as a friend to many, full of life and always ready to greet others with a smile.

Bryan Zuckor, 14, was killed last Monday when Charles Andrew Williams, 15, opened fire at the school. His family and friends were given the opportunity to speak at the hour-long memorial at Lakeside Community Church, where Bryan attended youth group.

Many remembered how Bryan lived out his aspirations to become a professional stuntman.

"He entertained us all with his smile and his stunts, and his jumping over poles and falling down," said Kelly, a classmate. "And every time he did get hurt, if he did get hurt, he would jump up, smile, and say 'Hm.' And I know he'd want everyone to jump up from this and smile and say, 'Hm.'"

Bryan's bicycle and helmet were placed at the front of the church, a reminder of Bryan's active involvement in a number of sports. He was preparing to join the high school track team before he was killed.

"He gravitated toward the pole vault," said the school's track coach. "I have no doubts that, had he had the opportunity to spend four years with us, he would have been soaring high over that bar."

Santana principal Karen Degischer said Bryan was full of energy and ambitions, and was also thinking about becoming a doctor.

"A stuntman or a doctor," she remarked. "What a beauty of youth that one could think that you could be one or the other, maybe even both."

Degischer said Bryan's constant smile "would melt your heart." A 5th-grade teacher said Bryan always wore a smile when he came back to visit the class, and youth group friends said it was among the things they would miss most.

"Bryan always just wanted to make people happy, and that's what I'll remember him for," said one.

"If we could all be more like that, I don't think things like this would happen," said another.

Lakeside pastor Robert Mentze called Bryan "a young man full of life," always growing in his Christian faith.

"We didn't come here today to try to forget what happened to Bryan," he said. "We can't. Instead, we came to remember what a fine young man he was, to thank God for his gift of his life to us, and to take what we can learn from him -- especially his zest for life -- and make it a part of our lives as a living memorial."

The memorial for Randy Gordon, 17, also killed in the shooting, was held Saturday.

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