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Massapequa HS mourns loss of senior from bacterial meningitis The Massapequa community is mouring the loss of a 17-year-old Massapequa High School senior, Michael Gruber, who died Thursday, Jan. 24 from meningococcal meningitis. Services for the young man, who was described as a "sensitive and quiet" young man who everyone liked, were held Monday at St. Rose Of Lima R.C. Church where he played CYO basketball. "Michael was the type of boy that everyone had a kind word about," said Bruce Knittle, coordinator of the 11th- 12th grade CYO program. "He was bright and modest had a full and bright future ahead of him." Superintendent of Schools Charles Sulc said he was a good student who was well liked by his classmates. "He was very involved in school here and we are very proud to have had him as a student, said Sulc at a press conference the school held on Friday. "We are very sorry for the parents and we continue to work with the family as close as we can." Michael is the son of Hermann and Susan Gruber of Massapequa. According to several sources, Michael had a basketball game on Wednesday night but stayed home because he complained of flu-like symptoms. His father, a coach with the team, attended the game. The next morning Michael was taken to the hospital where efforts to save his life failed. When a diagnosis was made, the Nassau County Department of health notified individuals who had been identified as close contacts with the student, and advised them of the need for preventative treatment. Fellow employees at the King Kullen supermarket on Merrick Rd., Massapequa, where Michael worked parttime, were notified but were advised by the DOH that they did not need to seek preventative treatment because they had only casual contact with Michael The DOH said that close contact would include anyone who shared food, drink or eating utensils with Michael or a beverage container between Jan. 13 and Jan. 23. In addition to the school district, officials with the King Kullen stores said they have been in touch with the DOH and advised employees who may have had contact with Michael to make their own medical decisions. They mourned the loss of a young man who the store manager who hired him said was "a wonderful boy." When the school district was notified on Wednesday that Michael was suffering from bacterial meningitis, its emergency notification system went into operation. Parents received phone calls at home and on their cells and were advised to go to either the school district or DOH website. The school district brought in its custodial workers to clean the high school and the district continued to work closely with the DOH. "Communications have gone out to all parent households and have been posted on our webiste," said Sulc. "As a precautionary measure, custodial and maintenance staff have cleaned and sanitized the high school and other district facilities the student may have frequented." Over the past two weeks, the students have been undergoing testing, so regular school hours were not maintained. A crisis intervention team has been activated and grief counseling services will be provided to members of the staff or student body as requested. On Friday, as the media converged on the high school, students talked about the death of one of their own. Most said they were not apprehensive about going back into the school building. "At first me and my mom were concerned about coming in to school today but then we heard that the building was disinfected," said JourdanGianeona, a 10th grader. "I came in because of the tests and I am concerned because he had to get it somewhere," said another student who asked not to be named. Kyle DiVirgilio and Adam Schiappa, 10th graders, said they were not worried because they did not have any close contact with Michael. Germaine Brenkerta, whos daughter went to school on Friday to take tests, said she was satisfied that the teachers are well prepared to handle any issues and that the school was responsible in notifying parents immediately of the emergency. "They have been taking tests over the past two weeks so my daughter has not been in school regularly," said Brenkerta. "That makes it a little easier."
Anyone who would like more information on the disease may go to the New York State Department of Health website at www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/ or call the Nassau County Department of Health Information Line at 516-571-2500.
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