Wheaton North teen's passing devastates community

A Wheaton North High School junior's passing has profoundly affected the community.

Derek Hernandez died Thursday after briefly battling liver cancer. He was 15.

Juan Hernandez, Derek's father, described his second-born as a lovable kid with a wacky sense of humor that appealed to peers and adults alike.

"He had friends from all spectrums," Juan Hernandez said.

As of Saturday evening, a Facebook group entitled "R.I.P Derek Julian Hernandez" boasted 293 members.

Friends scrambled to organize a Sunday evening memorial.

"This was planned completely by the kids," aunt Dawn Szumski, of Winfield, said.

Juan Hernandez said his son began feeling ill just weeks ago.

"One day he came up to me and told me his stomach was hurting," he said. "I started kidding him, 'Maybe you shouldn't have eaten that cheeseburger.'"

Derek's mother, Gina, a nurse practitioner, examined Derek and noted that his abdomen was swollen.

Tests revealed that Derek had liver cancer. On Wednesday, he underwent a biopsy to determine if the cancer had spread. He died hours later.

Dawn Szumski, Derek's aunt, said she's been amazed to see how many lives her nephew touched.

A honor roll student, Derek would have been taking Advanced Placement classes in the fall. Just weeks ago, he finished taking driver's education, earning an A in the class.

"He conquered that goal," Juan Hernandez said. "He was a good driver, too."

An avid cook, Derek loved to eat, watch and recall Seinfeld episodes, and attend Chicago sporting events with his dad. The two were lone Cubs fans in a family of White Sox supporters.

A defender on the school's lacrosse and soccer teams, Derek will be buried in his lacrosse uniform, Szumski said.

Szumski, who works at the Wheaton Sports Center, said dozens of students have stopped to tell her about their memories of Derek.

"You just can't sum up how wonderful he was," she said.

Besides his parents, Derek leaves behind a sister, Allex, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

The Sunday evening memorial will take place from 8 to 10 p.m. at Wheaton North's football field, 701 Thomas Road, Wheaton.

Visitation will take place from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at St. Michael Catholic Church, 310 S. Wheaton Ave., Wheaton. A funeral Mass, also at St. Michael, is at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The (Forever Fifteen) Derek J. Hernandez Memorial Foundation, 1927 E. Willow Ave., Wheaton.