Memorial service Saturday for 2nd train victim
Young man identified as Jean-Paul 'JP' Blanchard, 17, a Gunn High School junior
A "Celebration of Life" memorial service has been set for 10 a.m. Saturday at Spangler Mortuaries in downtown Mountain View for the Gunn High School junior killed by a train Tuesday morning in an apparent suicide. The student has been identified as Jean-Paul "JP" Blanchard, 17, of Palo Alto.
The Santa Clara County Coroner's Office officially released his identity late Wednesday, and corrected his age, reported earlier as 16.
On Wednesday, grieving [www.paloaltoonline.com students at Gunn High School wore black] in memory of Blanchard, who authorities say walked around the crossing arms near East Meadow Drive in Palo Alto just before a northbound commute train hit him. It was the second death by train in Palo Alto in as many days.
Services will be held at Spangler Mortuaries, 799 Castro Street, Mountain View on Saturday, May 9, at 10 a.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials be donations to the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA, 12 Airport Blvd., San Mateo, 94401, because of JP's love of animals.
See [www.paloaltoonline.com Palo Alto Online] for more in-depth coverage on Blanchard, including [www.paloaltoonline.com Town Square comments] from Blanchard's friends and loved ones.
— Palo Alto Weekly staff