Student with laser cat portrait dies

Draven Rodriguez, the Schenectady High School senior who gained national attention last year for his attempt to have his yearbook photo include his cat with a laser background, committed suicide, the Daily Gazette and the Times Union reported Saturday.

He was 17.

It's tragic news after what was an uplifting story that grabbed national interest for Rodriguez's unique and creative photo and his effort to get it into the yearbook.

"I don't want to go in the yearbook with the generic 'I-look-like-everyone-else' photo," he told the Gazette last September. "I wanted a 'He looks great. Only he would try that' photo."

He added, "When people look at it, they will know that was me."

The news late Friday shook the community.

"He made friends wherever he went," Rodriguez's father, Jonathan Stewart, told the Times Union. "He had friends all over the country -- people he'd met at youth-leadership conferences, online, just around town."

His effort to get the photo with his cat, Mr. Bigglesworth, in the yearbook ended amicably. Rodriguez and his principal, Diane Wilkinson, were set to appear in the photo with their pets, both rescue animals, and was to be put on the principal's page in the yearbook.

The Gazette wrote more about Rodriguez's community involvement, which included an anti-bullying program and an award, called The Right Here, Right Meow Award for Current Achievement in Cat Excellence.

(Photo provided by Vincent Giordano)