• Allison Miles •
• Originally published May 22, 2008 at 9:28 p.m., updated May 22, 2008 at 9:28 p.m.

A gentle morning breeze tousled the leaves of a freshly-planted cedar elm tree in front of C.O. Chandler Elementary School Thursday.

Against its trunk sat a marble plaque — a small, silent tribute to 7-year-old student Carlos Luke Cantu, who lost his battle with cancer in September.

“He will live on,” school principal Debbie Michalski said. “He may not be here, but his memory will be here.”

Dozens of children gathered at the ceremony to honor their fellow classmate and school namesake C.O. Chandler each with their own tree.

Carlos was diagnosed with desmoplastic cancer, a rare disease that causes abdominal tumors, in August 2005, his mother Cathy Cantu said. It was the week before he began kindergarten.

“He was homebound for most of kindergarten,” Cathy said. “But you could never tell he was sick. If you asked how he was, he always said he was fine.”

First grade was his only full year at the school, but he loved every minute of it, she said.

“He liked coming whenever he could,” she said of her son, a little guy with big brown eyes and a dark head of hair. “He was full of energy. He was quiet, though.”

Carlos’ parents received a copy of the school yearbook, which has a full-page tribute to their son, and artwork from some of his friends, during the ceremony.

Like any other little boy, Carlos loved to camp and fish. He was a scout and played baseball for a couple of years.

Even through the medical procedures and the surgeries — one surgery, which involved doctors removing 402 tumors, lasted hours — he remained strong, said Carlos’ father, Carlos Cantu.

“The doctors always said they were impressed with the way he handled the chemo and radiation,” he said. “He didn’t let it get to him.”

That attitude extended into the classroom, Carlos’ first-grade teacher, Carol Madden said.

“He liked science and going to the science lab,” she said with a smile. “He wanted to do everything. A lot of the kids would have never known he was sick.”

Carlos lost his battle on Sept. 29. His tree is planted outside of Madden’s classroom.

The event’s other honoree, O.C. Chandler, celebrated his 100th birthday on Feb. 2, Michalski said.

Chandler, a former Victoria school district superintendent for nearly 20 years, lives in Lufkin, she said, but takes pride in Victoria.

“He still calls on the first day of school,” Michalski said. “He calls to see how we are and to wish us well.”

Through the trees and plaques, Chandler and Cantu will live on at the elementary school, she said.

“The students may not have known them personally, but they’ll know who they are,” she said.

And even though Cantu spent only one full year at the school, he left a lasting impression, Michalski said.

“He was a big part of our school,” she said, dabbing at her eyes. “He taught us things. He taught us how to live and he taught us how to die.”

Allison Miles is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6511 or amiles@vicad.com, or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.

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