Draven Rodriguez, a high school senior whose viral yearbook photo showed him posing with his cat in front of a background of laser beams, has died. He was 17.
Local reports said the Schenectady High School student committed suicide on Thursday night. A family member confirmed to Mashable that he had died, but declined to comment further.
Rodriguez's quirky and unconventional photo with his cat Mr. Bigglesworth made waves back in September. And while it was not part of the regular senior portrait section, the photo was featured on principal Diane Wilkinson's page to raise awareness for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Animal Protective Foundation of Schenectady.
The Daily Gazette, a local newspaper, said his family had gathered at their home on Friday, but declined to comment on Rodriguez's death.
“I don’t want to go in the yearbook with the generic ‘I-look-like-everyone-else’ photo,” Rodriguez told The Daily Gazette in early September. “I wanted a ‘He looks great. Only he would try that’ photo. When people look at it, they will know that was me.”
Last week, Rodriguez posted a photo of himself and Mike Feurstein, founder of the Don't Wait to Unmake a Bully program, on his Instagram account.
Selfie with the amazing Mike of the @unmakeabully project. Had an awesome time working with the kids in Amsterdam and I'm excited to work with them next year. A photo posted by Draven Rodriguez (@dravenrodriguez) on Feb 11, 2015 at 12:43pm PST
Classmates, friends, and members of the local community posted tributes to Rodriguez on social media, as word of his death spread online.
Rest In Peace Draven this picture isn't the same knowing you aren't even here anymore .... It was… http://t.co/hi3AkXn2Qt— Essence Always (@OsoReall) February 21, 2015
We lost a fearlessly creative young man this week. RIP, Draven http://t.co/9ixpZGnFlA pic.twitter.com/vbn8E4fWGN— Ned Campbell (@nedcampbell) February 21, 2015
crushed to hear about @DravenRodriguez passing, Schenectady needs more bright young people like him— Amber van Natten (@moxieingreen) February 21, 2015
Those who knew Rodriguez paid tribute to an intelligent teen who was "never afraid to think outside the box," and so much more than just the boy in the cat photo.
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