Condolences from Chaminade High School

Although we never had the oppourtunity to meet this student it is well known that Holy Ghost is a school with a reputation for being great competitors and great people. We express our deepest condolences for their loss, we will be praying for them in this time of sadness.

Family in the Spirit of God

As a local Bostonian, and a Holy Spirit-filled Christian, I wish to express my personal sympathies for the family and team of Yuriy. Although we did not have the pleasure of meeting Yuiry, nevertheless we feel sadenned by news of the loss. We pray that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God, move among you all and bring you through this experience with His peace that surpasses all understanding.

From our family to yours...

The Southside High School (SC) Forensic Team would like to offer our condolences to the Tutko family and the entire Holy Ghost Prep squad. In this most difficult time of need, please know that you are in our prayers and forever in our hearts. God bless you. Respectfully, Erickson Bynum Director of Forensic Competition

Yuriy's GMIF Lab

Ever since day one of GMIF, Yuriy was such an inspiration to all of us. He was so crazy and fun, and that is exactly what we all loved about him. He was always doing silly things like jumping over shrubs and falling right in the process then getting right back up. He always had a smile on his face and was always so supportive of everyone in our lab. He loved forensics and always gave 100% in our lab with everything we worked on. We were so lucky to know him. He was truly an amazing person. We'll never forget you "ukie delight"!

Condolences from Regis High School

To Tony and our brothers on the Holy Ghost team: Our hearts go out to you and Yuriy's family on this sad occasion. You remain in our prayers. Sincerely, Eric DiMichele and the Regis Speech and Debate team.

Condolences from Asheville High School

Although we never got the chance to get to know Yuriy better, we were your neighbors just down the hall at the hotel. The Asheville High Speech and Debate family is truly saddened by this loss for the forensic community. Please accept our heartfelt condolences and know that you will remain in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time and beyond. May the love Yuriy had for this activity be a continued inspiration for your team and the rest of the forensics comminity. As part of the larger forensics family that we are, we share your grief and pay our respects to this member of the family. May you be comforted in the coming days and weeks.

From your friends at Ridge...

To the Tutko family, Mr. Figiola, and the entire Holy Ghost Prep community, The students and coaches at Ridge High School send you our thoughts, prayers, and sincere condolences. Please know the entire forensic community stands with you in recognition of Yuriy's spirit and talent, and supports you during this difficult time. With our deepest sympathy, The Ridge Forensics Team

Our Sincerest Sympathies from Stuyvesant

Having been able to work with Yuriy on several occasions at GMIF last summer, I can say that he was a very sweet kid, intelligent, funny, and quite talented. I had very high hopes for him in the future. Unfortunately, the world will not be able to see Yuriy fully realize his potential. I like to think that God has bigger plans for this kind, sincere, and spirited young man. The Stuyvesant Speech Team sends our deepest sympathies to Yuriy's family, Tony, and the Holy Ghost Team. This is certainly a great loss. Tim Janas Stuyvesant Speech Coach

In our thoughts from The Hun School of Princeton

On behalf of the students, parents and coaches at The Hun School we send our deepest sorrow for the loss this past weekend at Harvard. Our team was inspired by the students and coaches at HGP and all of you are in our thoughts at school, during competition and will continue to be for quite some time. Having coached off and on at Holy Ghost for so many years I can only say that this strong group of young men will rise up and conquer this great sadness with the same determination and passion that makes them the great group of men they are. We are thinking of all of you... With love, C. Ryan Joyce and The Hun School of Princeton Forensics Team

Sadness

I am just a Holy Ghost alum saddened by this death. RIP, Yuri.

Condolences from an HGP friend

Holy Ghost is a beautiful school, filled with upstanding, good, loyal, and moral gentlemen who would never do harm to anyone. This event truly is a tragedy, and as a fellow competitor who has bonded with many Holy Ghost students, I send out my condolences from the bottom of my heart. To Yuriy's family, to Yuriy's peers, to Holy Ghost faculty, teachers, and coaches, no one should have to suffer such a tremendous loss. I know that everyone's heart goes out to Yuriy and his family, and everyone who has lost a friend.

Condolences from the Nova HS Team

Words cannot express what we as coaches and students want to convey to everyone at Holy Ghost. Just please know that this is a community and you do not bear the sorrow alone- we are all thinking of you and sending you our deepest condolences.

Condolences from Rufus King HS

Though I didn't know Yuriy personally, every student and coach I've known from Holy Ghost Prep has been a compassionate human being who valued the opportunities for interaction this activity engenders. I can't imagine the pain of loss the family and HGP community must be feeling right now; hopefully, the outpouring of love and support within this community to which Yuriy was dedicated is comforting. We will keep the family and team in our thoughts and prayers. - Adam Jacobi and the Rufus King Forensics squad, Milwaukee, WI

Condolences from Bronx Science

Survivors guilt is a huge and amorphous being. It doesn't, however deserve to eat away at the hearts and minds of Yuriy's teammates, friends, and family. The Holy Ghost team is composed of wonderful people, and Yuriy is still one of them. He will be with you all at Holy Ghost, through your triumphs and struggles, possibly more than ever before. We must all remember and acknowledge that Yuriy died doing something he loved; something honorable and dignified. He passed away while summing up the courage and poise to speak in front of strangers, share his opinions or interpretations with spectators, and develop skills that would allow him to make a difference in the world; to help enlighten people. He died knowing that he was going to be part of a team effort. Most

The Harvard National Congress Grieves with you...

May the Lord show His immeasurable mercy and give those of you who are devastated by this tragedy that "peace that surpasses understanding." Events such as this create a God-sized whole in our hearts that only He can fill. Philippians 4:6-7

Love from a fellow GMIFer

We all grew so close at camp that this has been hard on me. I can only imagine the pain of the people who were closer to Yuriy. I am constantly thinking about all of you.

Riverdale High School

While at Harvard, we were saddened when we heard about this event. With solemn hearts, we offer our condolences to the Holy Ghost community and to all those affected. We can not imagine what you are going through. But, please know that we are thinking about you down in New Orleans. With Our Best Wishes, Riverdale High School

Condolences from the Mark Keppel High School Debate Team

The Mark Keppel High School Debate Team would like to offer our condolences for the student, the family and relatives, and the school and community of Holy Ghost Prep. Although we never had a chance to meet the student, we would like for you to know that our prayers will be with you and we hope that our thoughts reach you in this time of tragedy and despair. Respectfully, Jeffrey Hamamoto Co-Captain, Mark Keppel High School California

Condolences from a judge

I had the pleasure of judging this young man early in the year, and I saw that he was on the road to forensic stardom. And what a nice kid he seemed to be, supportive of his fellow competitors while they were performing. What a loss. God Bless him and his family and his team.

From the St. Thomas Aquinas Family

Words cannot express our deepest condolences and the sympathy we feel for Yuriy, his family, and the Holy Ghost Prep Community. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. St. Thomas Aquinas High School Debate Team

Condolences from Durant High School

The forensics squad of Durant High School, Durant, Oklahoma would like to express our love and prayers to the family and speech community for the loss of their loved one. Our squad shares the same spirit of love for this event and your loss is also ours. May God strengthen you and fill you with His gentle love of comfort during this most difficult time.

Condolences from the Union Catholic Forensics Team

We would like to extend our condolences to the Tutko family in this sad time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

Condolances from a competitor...

I had the chance to compete against Yuriy and my thoughts are with his family. And with the entire HGP team.

Condolences from Royal Palm Beach High School

Our prayers are with the family and friends. Our hearts go out to the entire Holy Ghost team.

Condolences from the Mount Mercy Academy Team

Dear Tony, Jerry and all other coaches and students at HGP Please know you are all in our thoughts and prayers at this time. We are so involved in communication, yet words fail us at this time. If we could speak the words to make anything better, we would. Instead, know you are all in our hearts and on our minds. How blessed so many were to know Yuriy. Catherine Luhr and the Mount Mercy Academy Team, Buffalo, NY

Condolences from Christopher Columbus High School

With deep sympathy from all of our debaters, we would like you to know that our prayers are with you.

Condolences from Lincoln-Sudbury

The Lincoln-Sudbury Speech and Debate team would like to express its condolences for the Tutkos and all of Holy Ghost Prep. Our school lost students last year and this year, and we fully empathize with you. Our hearts are with you, Holy Ghost Prep.

Thoughts from East Chapel Hill High

I did not know Yuri but a memeber of my team was friends with him. She was quiet saddened and shocked about the event. No one should ever be taken from us. We are all sadened by the lose. We keep Yuri, Tony, all that new him, and the whole Holy Ghost Team in your prayers.

CONDOLENCES FROM A MOTHER OF A HS DEBATOR

May god bless the Holy Ghost team, friends, and most saddened family of this extrodinary young man. Your pain is shared with so many. Our hearts are heavy and we are all reminded by your loss of how prescious every minute and how meaningful each word spoken is.

Condolences from Iona Prep

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." It may seem impossible now that you should ever be comforted for the loss of a son, a teammate, a star like Yuriy. He lives on in our memory. We will pray for you in this difficult time. The Iona Prep team

Condolences from Fort Lauderdale High School

Although the pain that must be felt by all those of Holy Ghost Prep and all those who Yury touched be great, trust that he served a greater purpose and that he is safe in his new home. Our prayers and our love go to his family and friends. May the Lord have welcomed him to his final resting place.

4n68rs

I hope it is not too presumptuous of me to say that I speak for the entire forensics community in sharing how great a loss this is to all of us. As can be seen though all these heartfelt comments, forensics is one very close community. We all cry together in DI rounds and laugh uncontrollably through HIs and we all share this pain now. I simply hope that all of you at Holy Ghost and all who had the privilege of knowing Yuriy will remember that you have an entire nation of speakers and thinkers praying and thinking about you now, here for you forever.

Condolences from the Unionville High School community

On behalf of the Unionville HS community, I express sadness about our loss of Yuriy. Each high school debater/speaker I have ever met inspires awe - for the potential, the achievements, and the sheer bravery each has shown for engaging in this challenging “sport.” Although I never met Yuriy in my rounds as a parent judge in the Philadelphia area, I grieve the loss of his potential, his achievements, his bravery as I read these heartfelt messages. I also admire the Holy Ghost team’s act of honor and solidarity in sacrificing the opportunities at Cambridge to be with Yuriy’s family and the Holy Ghost community at this difficult time. Their departure left a huge gap at Harvard, especially for their friends from Unionville. They have once again set a high standard for the rest of us, thi

post from Unionville High School (continued)

...I also admire the Holy Ghost team’s act of honor and solidarity in sacrificing the opportunities at Cambridge to be with Yuriy’s family and the Holy Ghost community at this difficult time. Their departure left a huge gap at Harvard, especially for their friends from Unionville. They have once again set a high standard for the rest of us, this time not on the debate floor, but in our hearts. The response of all involved has been so loving and positive. Amidst much sorrow, Yuriy has somehow managed to help us find brightness and hope. Many blessings to him and those who belong to him.

Condolences from Suncoast High School

The Debate Team at Suncoast High School in Florida sends its deepest condolences to Tony Figliola, the Coaching Staff, and students of Holy Ghost Prep. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. -Traci Lowe and the Suncoast H.S. Debate Team

February 20, 2008 We remember with joyful hearts those who from the beginning have pleased You by their lives and now find rest in Your presence. Dear Family and Freinds of Yuriy Tutko and his "family" at Holy Ghost Preparatory School, It is with profound sadness that we learned of Yuriy's sudden passing on Saturday in Boston. Please accept my own condolences, as well as those of the entire Loyola Blakefield school family at this very sad and difficult time. Be assured of a special remembrance in our Masses and prayers for Yuriy, for you, and for all those whose lives Yuriy touched in the brief time he graced your "families." We pray that the Lord, our Good Shepherd, will welcome Yuriy into His loving embrace where we know that life is not ended but transformed into the g

You're in our thoughts at Asheville High

Our thoughts are with you all as you mourn this fine young man. Our team was in the same hotel in Boston and Yuri's death had a profound effect on all of us, students, coaches and chaperones. May you all find solace and peace.

Love from Albuquerque Academy

As we have walked through the halls during our regular school day; our thoughts have been in Bensalem as we know Yuriy’s funeral is also happening today. Several of us knew him from GMIF and we remember him as constantly happy and exuberant during nighttime free time. We only wish we could look forward to seeing him in Fairfax this summer. For the past few years, Academy students have become close to generations of Ghost boys and today….our thoughts are not only with Yuriy’s family but with Tony and our friends in Pennsylvania.

Condolences from a Mauldin High interper

I am an interper at Mauldin High school, and I just wanted to send the deepest condolences for your loss. Though I have never met this debater, on behalf of the Mauldin High School debate team, we grieve with you.

Condolences from Bronx Science cont'd (post was too large)

importantly, however, he died among friends; like minded people who shared his passion for forensics. For many, the speech and debate team is a second family, and we all must think of it that way. He passed away in the fold of his second family, but also knowing that his real family loved him and trusted him enough to let him travel miles and miles to do something he had a flare for. Yuriy put everything into perspective for all of us. His death reminded us that life isn't about trophies. He reminded us that every day, with good ranks and bad, is a spectacular gift. Every day, we must let Yuriy's voice echo in our heads, orating, interping, or merely telling a joke; laughing at a story; being fun and ridiculous. Let it remind us all that life is fun. Life is a hilarious anec

Judge & Coach

It is such a tragic and incidental loss. My thoughts are with his friends and family at this time. Keep the fond and proud memories of an aspiring, young debator.

Love from a fellow debater

I would like to express my condolences for yuriy's family and friends, even though i did not know yuriy well myself, I was one of his neighbors in the Harvard hotel, and while my team was extreamly sad, i think it effected me the most, i want to share a story, that, Friday night at harvard, when we were all moving in, and everything was so crazy, i took time to say hi to everyone who we were staying near, i said hi to yuriy and he was the only one to really smile say hi, I want to express how sad i am for the loss of this wonderful person from our forensics community as well as from the world. My heart goes out to his family, as well as the entire holy ghost prep team. I wish i would have gotten to know him better, but I know in god's hands he will be safe forever now. Much love. A