850 gather for teen’s memorial

The size of the crowd was a tribute to Brian “Bubba” Kapko’s life.

About 850 people joined Kapko’s family at the Newport Mesa

Christian Center on Saturday for a memorial service to remember the

former Estancia High School football standout. But the gridiron was

only one part of the young man’s 19 years. Beyond sports, Kapko was

honored for his friendships and deep religious faith.

“I look back on his life; he was an eagle,” said Brian Stair,

youth leader at Harbor Light Church. “He was an Eagle Scout. He was

an Estancia Eagle.”

“He would swoop down, and he had, to me, a Christ-like character

because he hung around with everybody,” Stair said.

Kapko graduated from Estancia High School in 2004. After high

school, he left Costa Mesa for Denver to study at Johnson & Wales

University. Kapko died after a car crash Aug. 28. Kapko, his best

friend, Kris Hartwell, and three other friends were on their way to

Denver after a volleyball tournament in Boulder. Kapko and his

buddies were traveling in a Toyota 4Runner when the sport-utility

vehicle and another vehicle were hit by the driver of an allegedly

stolen red Honda that was being chased by police.

Kapko was the only person killed in the collision, which occurred

in Arvada, Colo. Arvada Police spokeswoman Susan Medina said the two

men in the Honda, 20-year-old Matthew Wartena of Arvada and a

16-year-old, were arrested on suspicion of several crimes, including

murder with extreme indifference to human life.

Kris Hartwell’s mother, Cathi Hartwell, was one of several people

who stood before the gathering to put their memories into words.

“The people in this room today are witness to how infectious Bubba

could be,” Cathi Hartwell said. “Bubba’s zest for life and the

impression he left on all of us is his tribute.... Bubba gave us a

rare gift and it is that gift we have to leave here today with.”

“Just picture this,” she added. “Bubba’s smile looking down upon

us from heaven. Close your eyes and hear his laugh and feel his

ever-encompassing hug. Take that with you today, and keep it in your

heart.”

One young man who spoke in front of the mourners testified to

Kapko’s steadfastness, saying, “This man stood by me with every

obstacle we faced with an unwavering loyalty.”

A young woman recalled Kapko’s sense of humor, telling the crowd,

“He was always a jokester, making everyone laugh.”

At the beginning of the service, pastor Rick Francis attested to

Kapko’s fun-loving personality. He suggested to Kapko’s loved ones

that the 19-year-old was “probably bearhugging angels.”

“He would want this occasion to be a celebration. He would want

you to laugh. He would want you to have fun,” Francis said.

At times, the sounds of laughter punctuated the service, breaking

through a palpable sense of grief. One instance was at the beginning

of a video tribute to Kapko’s life. The montage opened with a screen

heralding the young man’s birthday with a title declaring that Feb.

26, 1986, was the day “A Bubba is born.” A series of photographs

followed that showed Kapko’s growth from a chubby infant to the

teenager who was named the MVP of the Estancia Eagles football team

during his senior year.

Those who attended the service were told that Kapko recently

declared he did not fear the end of life.

“I’m not afraid of death because the people that are, they are

just not one with God,” Kapko once said. The quote was printed on a

bulletin that was handed to people at the service.

After the service, Kapko’s older brother, Matt Kapko, said Bubba

Kapko strove to be near to God for much of his 19 years.

“His faith was very strong. He got it at a very early age, and it

grew with him,” Matt Kapko said.