Relatives, teammates, classmates and friends from Westport and Bridgeport mourned Timari Rivera last night.
A candlelight vigil at Longshore paid tribute to the Staples High School senior. He died Sunday at home, from a recurrence of a medical condition.
He was best known at Staples for his basketball talents. After being sidelined as a sophomore with a health issue, Rivera captained last year’s junior varsity, and also saw varsity time.
An ankle injury cut that season short too. Head coach Colin Devine had big plans for the 6-7 senior this year. The season has not yet started, due to COVD-19.
Dave Ruden, whose Ruden Report covers FCIAC sports, lauded Rivera’s “lovable disposition and tireless work ethic.”
Devine told the Ruden Report: “He was a very, very good basketball player, a great teammate, a beloved member of our basketball family and the entire Staples High School community.
“He was a gentle giant with a great heart and loved his teammates, loved the game of basketball and was a true student of the game.”

Timari Rivera wore #44. His Staples basketball teammates hold up 4 fingers on each hand.
Staples senior Dylan Goodman took these photos of the vigil for her classmate. Click here for more images; click here for the full Ruden Report story.

Making the “L” hand sign, for “love.”

(Photos/Dylan Goodman)