David Yenni, 13, was remembered on Sunday afternoon during a standing-room-only celebration of life held at the Sebastiani Theatre. Yenni, son of Norm and Nadine and younger brother of Andrew, died on Aug. 11 in a farm-related accident in Petaluma.
Following a gathering in the theatre’s lobby, Yenni’s godparents, Diana and Roger Rhoten, opened the ceremony with welcoming remarks.
David Yenni was a proud member of Boy Scout Troop 16, and his fellow Boys Scouts and Cub Scouts turned out in force to honor their friend. He had aspired to be an Eagle Scout like his brother Andrew, and the legion of scouts, nearly 40 strong, comprised members of Yenni’s Troop 16 as well as Boy Scout Troop 222 and Cub Scout Pack 16.
They were accompanied by bagpiper and Eagle Scout Gary Kirby and Scout announcer Brian Hurley as they processed through the packed theatre and stood at attention in both aisles, saluting the flag as it passed in a formal honor guard. They then ascended the stage, their 15 uniformed leaders standing below, in front of the stage.
Scoutmaster Ken Perry talked of the lessons young Yenni taught him, such as appreciating humor, beauty, and the value of others. “David is not yet through teaching me,” Perry concluded. “Sometime in the future I will stop and realize another lesson that he has taught me, if I am open to hear his voice.”
Pal and fellow Scout Max Schimm said, “David really showed what funny was all about,” relating a hilarious account involving “nothing but his underpants,” and continuing, “I wish for David luck, fun, love, and awesomeness up in heaven.”
After the Boy Scouts left the stage, Eagle Scout David De Smet on keyboard and singer Caryn Prince with guitar and vocals delivered a beautiful rendition of Coldplay’s “Fix You.” The scouting presence was felt behind the scenes as well, with Eagle Scout Michael Lee in the balcony handling lighting and sound.
Formality gave way to intimacy as a slideshow of Yenni’s life played on the theatre’s big screen and Roger Rhoten read a letter from his family. “We’ve cried enough tears to float the Titanic,” Rhoten read. “Now is the time for healing and positive thoughts.” The family urged people to “gather your loved ones around you and give them a big hug,” adding, “David was full of life … we would like to remind his friends to have fun, work hard, and always do their best.”
Then singer and music teacher Bob Gossett sang James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain,” with the audience singing along to the chorus.
David Yenni’s unbridled humor was a repeating theme of the afternoon, with friends relating tale after tale of silliness and teachers recounting their secret laughter as they sought to bring him into line. Yenni reached the level of Brown Belt in karate, showing his teacher, Crysta McFarland, nothing but hard work and dedication before one day comically unleashing his inner ballerina during class and shattering the illusion of seriousness forever.
His first grade teacher at Prestwood, Renea Magnani, tearfully spoke of Yenni’s early math proficiency and enthusiasm for computers, while Darryl Bellach, equally tearfully, related how Yenni admired his parents’ hard work at farming.
Cubmaster Mike Schimm stated, “as a young lad, David seemed to fear nothing – other than his mom,” eliciting more laughter, and assistant scoutmaster Chris McNairy admired David’s unguarded public hugs of his mother. Bryan Aubin, Cub Master for Pack 16 and Commander of the local VFW, spoke movingly of David’s dedication year after year to honoring our nation’s fallen Veterans during Memorial Day Observances at the Veteran’s Cemetery.
Roger Rhoten closed with a verse, “I have only slipped into the next room …” before the Boy Scouts retired the colors and the audience filed into the lobby for more hugs and condolences, refreshments and perusal of mementos of Yenni’s too-short life.
