Former Fairfield student remembered

The life of a former Fairfield student was remembered on Sunday afternoon with a combination of emotion and song.

The body of 20-year-old Joseph Venincasa was found at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, September 15, after being reported missing by his father, Stephen, on Saturday, September 11.

It was reported by The Boston Herald that Venincasa died of a heroin overdose. Contrary to this report, police are still awaiting toxicology reports but have ruled the cause of death a diabetic seizure.

Venincasa’s body was found in his 1991 Mercury Sable on Beaver Brook Parkway, in an area off of Park Avenue in downtown Worcester, MA.

The area is within walking distance from Clark University, where Venincasa was most recently enrolled.

The memorial service for the English and psychology major was held at the Worchester Academy’s Lewis J. Warner Theater, where Venincasa had performed in plays as a student.

A professor of Venincasa’s spoke at the service about her experiences with him in and out of their J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” class.

“Joey was every teacher’s dream student,” she said.

She continued to explain how he brought light and set the tone on their first day of classes just by walking into the room, along with sharing many humorous accounts and lightening the mood in the theater.

The theater and balcony had sitting room for about two hundred people, but every isle and wall were filled with people.Outside, across the sidewalk, an enormous tent was set up to accommodate those who could not fit inside the theater.

The tent was equipped with a closed- circuit television showing the events live on stage and was completely full, holding about two hundred people.

Adding to the service, Venincasa’s older sister sang Sarah McLachlan’s “I Will Remember You” and his 18-year-old sister delivered an emotional eulogy and memoir for her “perfect brother.”

An avid musician, Venincasa’s own music was introduced by his mother Barbara and played “at a loud volume and with great intensity; the way he lived his life.”

Following the service, mourners flowed outside onto the sidewalk into the middle of the campus to release butterflies in honor of Venincasa’s life.

Following the release Venincasa’s father blew a kiss and many others followed in doing so.

The academy’s gymnasium was turned into to a reception hall, according to the MetroWest Daily News.

Inside, were a pastel portrait of Venincasa and a photo collage of his life, with photos ranging from childhood to formal dances to his live guitar performances.

Prior to recently becoming a full time third-year student at Clark, Venincasa attended Fairfield for the 2003-2004 school year.

Previous to his enrollment at Fairfield, Venincasa participated in a study abroad experience at Oxford and he also attended Skidmore College.

Venincasa’s family sends their thanks to Joey’s friends at Fairfield for filling his life with positive memories.