Southridge Students Remember Jo Jo

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Story Published: Feb 27, 2008 at 6:49 PM PST

By Molly Kelleher

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KENNEWICK - It's another loss for Southridge students. The sudden death of a well known student is hitting hard.

Jovan "Jo Jo" Conn died suddenly in his sleep. Benton County coroner says it was natural causes likely heart-related.

At Southridge, the news sparked a different kind of school spirit. Not as much about grief, as it is about support. Everywhere we looked, poems and pictures posted of a kid everyone knew.

Of all the Southridge Suns. Jovan "Jo Jo" Conn, might just have been the brightest of all.

He was team manager, competed in the Special Olympics and always on stage for the school's talent show. He was in special ed life skills classes, but that's not what he was known for it's his big smile and winning attitude.

"He'd pump us up during a game and when we lost he's not upset just an unbelievable kid," said Travis Mattair.

Mattair lettered in three sports, graduated last year and is now playing minor league baseball in the minor league system. By all accounts Mattair is the star athlete, but to Travis,Jo Jo's the real star.

"People always say with special Olympics that we were doing stuff for us. That's never the case. He did more for us," said Mattair.

"I don't know what it is about us we've been through it too many times but we rally around each other," said Southridge Assistant Principal Ralph LeCompte.

In Wednesday's art class, students took Jo Jo's school picture and made a ten food mosaic. The hallway is full of notes to Jo Jo, one student says Jo Jo you were the school's real mascot.

"There are no worries how Southridge kids will handle this. They are mature way beyond their years," said LeCompte.

If you would like to help the family with funeral expenses, go to any Bank of American and ask for the "Jo Jo Conn Memorial Fund."

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