Community Corner

Franco Garcia Memorial Service, Library Dedication to be Held Friday

Garcia, 21, went missing on Feb. 22, 2012 after joining his friends at Mary Ann's Bar in Brighton. His body was found 50 days later in the Chestnut Hill Reservoir.

Nearly a year has passed since friends and family last saw Franco Garcia, a West Newton resident and Boston College senior .

And while the Newton, Waltham and Boston College community have said goodbye to the young musician, they are still working to keep his memory alive. 

A memorial service and library dedication will be held in Garcia's honor this Friday, Feb. 22 at St. Mary's Parish on School Street in Waltham, according to an event posting on the Find Franco Facebook Page.

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The celebration of Garcia's life will start at 6:30 p.m. with Rosary followed by a Catholic Mass at 7 p.m.

After the Mass, the community will hold a ceremony to dedicate the parish library in Garcia's name. The dedication ceremony starts at 8 p.m. and a reception will follow. 

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Garcia disappeared in the early morning hours of Feb. 22 after hanging out with fellow BC seniors at Mary Ann's Bar in Brighton. The 21-year-old chemistry major was a trombone and clarinet player who was involved in many of the school's musical groups, including the marching band. 

After Garcia disappeared, an intensive search began. Family and friends held rallies and vigils, and "Find Franco" flyers filled storefronts and telephone poles throughout the Newton, Brookline and Brighton area. Social media accounts and websites were created, including the Find Franco Facebook Page and a @FindFranco Twitter account.

Following a cell phone ping from the area, a search was also conducted in the nearby Chestnut Hill Reservoir; . 

Although nothing was found in the initial search of the reservoir, a call from a jogger in early April brought State Police back to the water. Fifty days after he first went missing, Garcia's body was recovered from the reservoir. 

, which was held at St. Ignatius Church in Chestnut Hill.

For more information and stories on Franco Garcia, check out this page.

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