Community Support Bolsters Wiseman Family

There has been an outpouring of support from the Lafayette and Acalanes High community for Colin Wiseman, a 15-year-old sophomore who died suddenly on Thursday, Jan. 3.

Many students wore green to Acalanes High on Monday. This was a nod to the time Colin came to school wearing frog footie pajamas in bright green "to make people laugh," said his father, Graham Wiseman.

Friends assembled a Facebook page, "Remembering Colin Wiseman," which had 1,006 likes as of Jan. 10. "A thousand people have liked it, and that completely blows me away," said Graham Wiseman.

Colin Wiseman was troubled, according his father. "To prevent tragedies of this sort, I encourage others to talk to their children and get help," said Graham Wiseman. The family encourages memorial contributions to the Contra Costa Crisis Center.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Dr., Lafayette.

Graham Wiseman said his son was "selfless," which he has found out more about as friends have come to the house and shared memories. "If somebody was picking on another boy, he would step in and punch the bully," said Wiseman. "Of course, you don't get away scot-free doing that … It cost him."

He added, "He was just a wonderful giving boy who inside was sad but didn't want to share that sadness."

Colin is survived by his parents, Graham and Caroline Wiseman, and his sister Nicole, of Lafayette. Colin Wiseman was born Feb. 8, 1997.

Graham Wiseman went to Acalanes High and Caroline went to Miramonte High in Orinda.  When they were first married, they lived in Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill, and when Colin was born moved back to Lafayette. "With this (Colin's death), we knew why we needed to be back in Lafayette," said Graham Wiseman.

Colin was active with the Lamorinda Rugby club and Boy Scouts.

Counselors at Stanley Middle School and Acalanes High have been busy talking to students about Colin's premature death, Wiseman said. On Facebook, the first suggestion was for students to wear black to Acalanes on Monday to commemorate Colin, but other friends — remembering the bright footie pajamas — suggested green, Wiseman said. The pajamas were a birthday gift from Colin's friend.