(Frank Oliver/Journal and Courier) Jacob Barrett, 10, Mitch Witteveen, 10, and Alice Witteveen, from left, pray at a memorial for their friend James "Jimmy" DeBoy Thursday at the corner of King and Ninth streets in Lafayette. DeBoy was killed Wednesday at the corner, when he was hit by a car driven by Ceaser Delarosa, 23, of Lafayette. Mitch and Jacob both played baseball with James.

Fund established A fund has been set up in memory of Jimmy DeBoy. Donations can be made in his name at any branch of Lafayette Bank and Trust Co., payable to account No. 9000038226. Or donations can be made in his memory to Lafayette Catholic Schools. Have a tip? Police are still looking for one of the men seen running from the scene of the crash that killed 9-year-old James "Jimmy" DeBoy. Call (765) 807-1200 if you have any information.

Family, friends recall positives in 9-year-old's life

By Erin Smith
esmith@journalandcourier.com

One of 9-year-old James "Jimmy" DeBoy's greatest loves in life was sports -- watching and playing football, basketball and especially baseball.

(Photo provided) A litle league baseball photograph James "Jimmy" DeBoy.

Family and friends are remem bering Jimmy -- a happy-go-lucky boy who had a ready smile and a positive attitude. He was the kind of child every parent wanted their son or daughter to befriend, Jimmy's uncle Tom Spencer said.

Jimmy, who would have been in fourth grade at St. Boniface School this fall, died Wednesday afternoon after being struck by a car. Jimmy was riding his bicycle on a South Ninth Street sidewalk when a Chevrolet Impala driven by Cesar Delarosa jumped the curb and hit him. Police said Delarosa tested positive for drugs and alcohol.

"That's the tragedy of the whole thing," Spencer said. "To be taken by a drunk driver is incomprehensible. ... I think, as tough as it is, the family has a very strong faith. We're not strangers to tragedy, unfortunately. We'll all get through it. It's just a really tough time."

The third of Mike and Cathy DeBoy's five children, Jimmy loved the Chicago White Sox and was a big fan of Ichiro Suzuki, an All-Star right fielder with the Seattle Mariners. On Sunday, Jimmy sat through 19 innings to see the White Sox defeat the Boston Red Sox 6-5.

Family friends said the young boy also enjoyed watching his siblings at their sports practices and was often at his dad's side when Mike DeBoy was coaching.

"Jimmy was everybody's best buddy," said Joe CasaSanta, a lifelong family friend. "He was my best buddy, and I'm 42. ... He was put on this Earth to make people smile. He was a good friend. There are certain kids who have that instant bond, and everybody had it with Jimmy."

He was one of St. Boniface Church's newest altar boys and one of the youngest, the Rev. Tim Alkire said. Yet Jimmy displayed a certain maturity, he said.

"An excellent young man, a joyful young man -- someone his peers looked up to," Alkire said. "He'll be deeply missed by everyone who knew that child."

The family is relying on faith to see them through the difficult time, Jimmy's aunt Mary Patzschke said. Faith was something Jimmy had a lot of, she said.

"He prayed, and he lived his faith," Patzschke said. "He was a great kid. He was a sweet kid, and he was good to others. He was kind. He liked to help out. He was a hard worker."

Brenda Parker, a longtime family friend, said those within the Lafayette Catholic school system are stepping in to show their support to the DeBoys. Several other families within the schools recently have lost loved ones to cancer, she said.

"Now this. This one is not going to be easy. They never are, but when they're great kids and great families and some stupid act ...," Parker said. "Our faith tries to teach us not to be mad and that type of thing, but it's not easy not to be."