Memorial concert, scholarship keep Tyler Caruso's memory alive

Although he never had the chance to graduate, Tyler Caruso is one student St. Charles East and North high schools will never forget.

Caruso, who would have graduated from East in 2003, died of apparent cardiac arrest July 14, 2002.

Since then, every year both St. Charles East and North have worked together to put on the Tyler Caruso Memorial Concert, held in downtown St. Charles at Lincoln Park. This year's concert will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday.

"We are constantly reminded of the precious gift Tyler was to us," Tyler's mother, Marilyn Caruso said. "He lived a rewarding, talented and unselfish life.

"This memorial concert, so successfully orchestrated each year by the (Downtown St. Charles Partnership), St. Charles Park District, high school leaders, talented musicians and generous business community, keeps Tyler in the hearts of many."

The memorial concert is free to the public but donations are accepted for a scholarship fund put together in Tyler's name. This year the Caruso family was able to give out four $1,000 scholarships from the Tyler Brett Caruso Memorial Fund. Three scholarships were awarded to students at St. Charles East and one was given to a student at St. Charles North.

According to Marilyn Caruso, the Memorial Fund looks for applicants that participate in a wide variety of school activities just like Tyler did. Tyler was also the first student representative on the Downtown St. Charles Partnership and it was his idea to hold a concert in the park as a way of uniting rivaling St. Charles East and North High Schools.

Even though Tyler never lived to see his dream come to fruition, Marilyn, along with students at both St. Charles East and North and members of the DSCP, works to make sure Tyler's idea and legacy live on, both through the concert in the park and the scholarship fund.

"Each year these students are amazing, they're just great kids who have everything going for them," Marilyn Caruso said of the student organizers. "They just know how to put everything together."

The concert will feature performances by seven local bands and musicians including the St. Charles East Jazz Workshop, St. Charles North bands This Could Be Tricky and Rocket Boots and almuni bands Davis Bridge and StrangeLove.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at Lincoln Park, located at 445 W Cedar Street in downtown St. Charles. The concert is free, but donations will be accepted for the Tyler Brett Caruso Memorial Fund.