MIHS holds vigil for student who passed away in car accident

Published 1:00 pm Friday, March 20, 2026

The Mercer Island High School (MIHS) community mourned the sudden passing of junior Rhys Madamba with a candlelight vigil and time of remembrance on March 19 at the school amphitheater.

All community members were welcome to join the vigil and bring a photo of Madamba to share, according to a vigil announcement, which adds that the community gathering is “to honor, celebrate and grieve the passing of Rhys Madamba. Let us gather in light, love and remembrance.”

On March 16, MIHS Principal Nick Wold and members of his staff informed the community in a letter that Madamba was involved in a one-car accident on March 14 on Mercer Island, was transported to a local hospital and passed away early that Monday morning.

“It is with extreme sadness that we share some heartbreaking news with our community,” the letter reads, adding that Madamba was surrounded by friends and family at the hospital.

According to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office decedents list on March 18, Madamba, 17, passed away from injuries caused in the accident.

The letter adds: “The Madamba family would like to express their gratitude to Rhys’s friends, his schoolmates, and the staff at Mercer Island High School for their support and sympathy following his unexpected passing. At this time, the family kindly asks that their privacy be respected while they grieve.

“Please keep Rhys’s family and friends in your thoughts during this profoundly difficult time as we navigate this loss together, and continue to show kindness to one another.”

COMMUNITY GATHERS AT VIGIL

MIHS students, staff and community members packed the amphitheater for the emotional vigil, which featured heartfelt speeches as the Madamba family sat nearby.

People brought flowers and set them on the steps as Hawaiian music played lightly and a large purple paper heart was attached to a window that read, “We love Rhys Madamba.” Attendees also wrote messages of remembrance to Rhys and stuck them on huge white paper hearts also taped to a window. Lit candles sat on a table surrounded by photos of Rhys and some people held candles during the vigil.

People hugged and cried and lined up to speak with Rhys’s father, Jon, following the speeches.

“What I learned over the last few days is that I had a wicked smart, brilliant, kind, loving son who loved his friends,” Jon said through tears. “Every person has come through that door to let us know what Rhys meant to them and what Rhys has done for them and what Rhys received from them most of all.”

Jon thanked Wold, MIHS PTSA President Kimberly Frank and the community “for just the tremendous amount of love and outreach and outpouring of support. We couldn’t have asked for more, and this is the reason why we moved to Mercer Island was for this epic environment where we knew we could raise our kids.”

Frank and others visited with the Madamba family earlier in the week and noted that, “It was just really lovely to sit in community with the family and with friends and to hear how much he was loved and hear stories about what his life meant.” The Madambas hail from Hawaii and Frank was born and raised on Oahu, so they made a strong connection. Frank said they call it “ohana,” which means family in Hawaiian.

Rhys’s best friend, MIHS junior Louis Garry, spoke at the vigil and told the Reporter afterward that it meant a lot that so many people attended the gathering and reached out to him while he was struggling during the week. It was hard to speak in front of the crowd, but he felt it was important to honor his friend.

They shared an immense amount of conversations over the years, said Garry, adding that their call history while playing computer games together amassed 7,000 messages of which 90% were calls.

Garry will remember about Rhys, “How much he thought about other people and how they felt. He made everyone really feel welcome and he had a really good way of trying to make everyone fit in. That’s the thing I try to remember about him and try to take with me and try to apply to myself. Try to make sure that everyone feels OK and everyone feels welcome and everyone feels like they’re included and they’re loved.”

Stephanie Boyer, who is a community leader, pastor at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church and school district wellness coordinator, told the crowd: “What we know about loss is it matters that we show up for one another and that we gather together.” She said they will loudly proclaim how loved Rhys was and how much the community celebrates his life.

MIHS advanced placement microeconomics teacher Anne Fillmore said that she was grateful to have taught Rhys and got to know his smile and his light. On his last microeconomics test, Rhys scored 20 out of 20, which he usually did, Fillmore noted.

“I’m really proud to see all of you here and what this means for community and how you show up and the love and the respect that you show each other. I hope that everybody here, especially all of the young people, know how much you are valued and loved and how important you are to all of us,” Fillmore said.

Islander Alessandra Beck Hirai said on the Reporter Facebook page that Rhys was a wonderful volunteer at the Lakeridge Chess Club.

“He was always kind, polite and helpful, and he will be missed so much. My heartfelt condolences to his family and to the whole community during this incredibly difficult time. May Rhys’s legacy of kindness and community continue,” she said.

Wold and his staff said the school is committed to ensuring that students receive support and assistance during the difficult time, noting that its two Mercer Island Youth and Family Services (MIYFS) counselors and school counselors are available to meet with students. MIYFS Administrator Derek Franklin offered additional counseling as needed.