Gianni Galoppe, Connetquot student, dies on family trip in Pennsylvania

Gianni Galoppe, a rising freshman at Connetquot High School, was remembered Saturday as a kind, caring and sweet boy who was a supportive teammate on competitive swimming teams.

Galoppe died Thursday after a medical emergency three days earlier while on a trip with family in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, his family said. He was 14.

"He was the brightest light in the world," said his father, Robert Galoppe.

His death left a community in mourning as family and school officials remembered the lasting impact he had on those around him.

"I wish everyone could have met him because he truly is something special," his mother, Alissa Coscia, said.

She remembered her son as the "sweetest, happiest, full of life, funniest, caring young man." He loved animals, playing games like Roblox and swimming competitively.

He was the oldest of five children in the blended family. He had two brothers on his mother's side, Leo and Luca, and two brothers on his father's side, Jayce and Lukas. His father said Gianni had "such a big impact on his brothers."

"They all wanted to be like him so much," he said.

Bryan Frank, acting superintendent of the Connetquot school district, notified families in a letter Friday and described the tragedy as "an extraordinarily difficult loss for the entire Connetquot community."

"Gianni was a bright, kind and lighthearted young man who was beloved by his teachers, classmates and staff," he wrote. "Those who had the privilege of knowing him will remember his positive attitude, friendly and easygoing personality and the joy he brought to those around him."

The superintendent said the district started a crisis response plan to provide grief counseling and support services to students and staff.

Alex Scichilone, head coach of the Connetquot/East Islip swimming team and the Connetquot Swim Club, said Gianni was a swimmer on both the middle school and club teams. He remembered Gianni as a "sweet soul."

He recalled how when Gianni first joined the team he couldn't yet dive into the pool. On the day when he mastered the technique, his face lit up with "pure excitement."

"He was a great teammate," he said. "If we lost, he'd be there trying to cheer everyone on."

His mother said even if someone was going through a difficult time, her son's "energy would just brighten everything."

She recalled how proud she was when he her son — a recent graduate of Ronkonkoma Middle School — received an award through the school's Special Education Parent Teacher Association.

A pair of online fundraisers had generated nearly $60,000 combined by midday Saturday. Family members said they were overwhelmed by the support, even from those who didn't know Gianni or the family personally.

"The entire community has come together: the school district, friends, family, neighbors," Alissa Coscia said. "We can't even express the gratitude because Gianni deserves the world, and they have shown a testament of who he really is that he means so much to everybody."

The family said funeral services were not yet set.

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

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