The Spring Grove School community is mourning the death of
former custodian Joey Corral, who died Sept. 30 at age 59 after a
battle with cancer that inspired a large fundraising drive.
The Spring Grove School community is mourning the death of former custodian Joey Corral, who died Sept. 30 at age 59 after a battle with cancer that inspired a large fundraising drive.
“He had a very positive attitude – even with the cancer – and he didn’t let that get him down,” said Jenny Bernosky, superintendent/principal of the North County School District. “He was always smiling. He was just a wonderful man; always thoughtful.”
Students, faculty and staff spent part of Thursday signing a “Spring Grove Loves Joey” sign that was to be presented to the family and displayed at Corral’s funeral Friday at St. Benedict’s Church.
With the theme, “Just for Joey,” the school community spent much of last spring raising money for Corral and his family as he was battling the illness with which he was diagnosed in November 2010. An estimated $25,000 was raised through a pasta dinner, bake sale and “Two Buck Tuesdays,” when students were encouraged to make a small donation once a week to help the family.
At the event, Corral spent most of his time walking around the school’s gym thanking the hundreds of people who showed up to support him.
“I can never thank them enough,” he said at the time. “I can never pay them back.”
A Spring Grove board member donated “Just for Joey” T-shirts for a sale that also helped raise money to help Corral’s family offset medical expenses.
Corral retired from Spring Grove in February but still visited the school whenever he could, Bernosky said.
“We had teachers sign up and bring meals to the family” throughout his illness, she said, “and we’ll continue that for the next couple of weeks.”
Spring Grove’s team entry in the Relay for Life event was named “Just for Joey,” and staff and community members regularly visited for former custodian regularly until last week.
His funeral was scheduled during school hours, but Bernosky said school employees had been planning to visit with the family Friday afternoon. The school is also discussing other ways to honor Corral, such as considering dedicating this year’s annual Turkey Trot to him or possibly planting a tree on campus in his honor.
Bernosky, who knew Corral for about five years, remembered that he always wished her a good night when she’d leave work.
“He was always very positive,” she recalled Thursday, as she prepared to have students sign the banner in his honor.
A funeral Mass occurred Friday at St. Benedict’s Church.
