Students mourn death of Woodside senior Students mourn death of Woodside senior (September 15, 2004)

Students at Woodside High School held a memorial service on campus Friday, September 10, to remember 16-year-old John Kyle Risher, a 12th grader who committed suicide, according to San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault.

Woodside Principal Linda Common said John's parents had come to the school to break the news to one of the boy's relatives, who is also a student at Woodside. The Redwood City resident died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on Tuesday, September 7, the coroner said.

He was just one day shy of his 17th birthday when he died, according to an obituary printed by his family. John loved being outdoors with his family, going hunting with his grandparents, fishing with his dad or skateboarding with his friends, according to his family.

A service at Redwood Church was held over the weekend. John is survived by his father Kyle and stepmother Carol; his grandparents Ken and Lois Brown; and his siblings Michelle and Daniel.

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