On Oct. 17, Robinson students hung a banner and wore purple clothing in a “purple out” to honor one of Brooke Buesking’s favorite colors. Photo courtesy of Josie Bulova
The Robinson community is coping with the loss of sophomore Brooke Buesking. On Oct. 15 Fairfax County Police found her body close to train tracks by Sideburn and New Guinea Roads, the Burke area where they’d gotten a report of someone being hit by a train.
The calls about the collision and Buesking missing both came in around 9 p.m. Police are waiting for a conclusion from the medical examiner as to the cause and nature of her death, however they don’t suspect there was any criminal activity or foul play involved.
ROBINSON PRINCIPAL Matthew Eline sent a message to students and parents about Buesking’s death the next morning, Oct. 16. He noted that Buesking played violin in the intermediate orchestra and clarinet in the beginning band. She was also teaching herself to play the ukulele, with help from the Internet.
“Brooke’s father allowed me to share news of her death with you so that you may be prepared to support your children,” Eline wrote. “We are taking every step we can to be responsive to the needs of our students and their families.”
A visitation gathering for family, friends and the community of supporters was held in the afternoon on Oct. 19 at Living Savior Lutheran Church.
Visitors streamed into the fellowship room that included a photo slideshow of Buesking. Her father Buck and brother Chase hugged and shook hands with everyone by tables bearing photo albums, a violin, a clarinet and a ukulele. Buesking’s mother, Virginia, died in 2011 of colon cancer.
The mood was sad and sentimental, but so close to Buesking’s death and with many questions remaining, there was also palpable shock and confusion.
Josie Bulova, who’s known Buesking since the two went to Bonnie Brae Elementary School together, was there.
“It was definitely helpful for me,” she said in an interview the following Tuesday, “to help me kind of cope. To see all the people she touched in her short life. All the friends, teachers, everyone there to support each other.”
Buesking’s strong sense of humor came through in the pictures, including one of matching scrunched faces with her father.
“She’s always the person that would try to cheer everyone up,” said Bulova. “Hyper, crazy, overly happy. She always had something funny to say, even if you didn’t want to hear it. She would tell you anyway.”
Buesking was also a supportive friend.
“She would push you towards doing something you wouldn’t normally do,” Bulova said. “In sixth grade we went to Hemlock Overlook. I was afraid to go on the zipline. She just jumped right next to me and I went down. That was Brooke.”
The Robinson administration has offered a full compliment of grief counseling services to students and family members, including numerous emergency resources.
“We went in big groups,” said Bulova. “That was really helpful. It really calmed everyone down and put everyone in a slightly better mood. They accepted that we wanted to be with each other.”
THE GROUPS of Buesking’s friends have spent the last few days in tears, broken periodically by someone cracking a joke, her favorite way to end an awkward silence.
“She was always, always happy,” said Bulova. “No matter what.”