Former PHHS students pass away

By Patrick Trieu

Piedmont Hills Class of ‘15 alumnus Johnathan Deming and Class of ‘13 alumnus Bryson Ambrose Young passed away this summer due to tragic events.

Deming was fatally shot by police in Pleasanton, CA in July.  Police officer Daniel Kunkel shot the unarmed Deming during a physical altercation between the two.  After the event, Deming was taken to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, where he died of his injuries.

Young passed away in his sleep at his home in San Jose, CA on June.  At the time, Young was a senior at UC Berkeley, where he was a Spanish and Pre-Med major and was studying to become a doctor.

Deming served as a defensive lineman on Piedmont Hills’s varsity football team and was remembered by his former social science teacher Paul Romero as a quiet, yet happy student.

“He was very quiet but always felt like he was alert.  He was a good kid, always smiling,” reminisces social science teacher Paul Romero.

During his time at Piedmont Hills, Young was part of the PHHS Treble Makers, which is the school’s vocal jazz ensemble, and the school’s wind ensemble, in which he played clarinet.  Throughout his high school and university career, Young was well-known for his friendly and active personality, as well as his passion for music.

“Bryson was a one of a kind person.  He had a really infectious laugh and had the ability to get along with lots of different kinds of groups of people,” recalls performing arts teacher Myles Ellis, who was a former teacher of Young.

Former teachers of the two alumni express sorrow over the deaths, but also recount happy past memories in honor of the alumni.

“And that’s what you try to think about, you try to think about the good things,” reminds Mr. Romero.